William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home

William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home sits in Temple, Texas, and was the first State Veterans Home built after 1997, named for World War II veteran William R. Courtney, and is run by Touchstone Communities, which is a for-profit Limited Liability Company, and the whole place is made for Texas veterans, their spouses, and Gold Star parents, plus it's got 160 beds for long-term care, with a whole separate and secure section for 32 people with Alzheimer's that has its own courtyard, cozy visiting spots, special activity and dining areas. The facility accepts Medicare and Medicaid, and it covers many medication costs for eligible Veterans, along with help for those needing application assistance for long-term care income, and it covers the full cost of care for certain qualifying Veterans. Nurses stay on duty in 12-16 hour shifts, and supervision is 24 hours, with an emergency alert system and call system so residents can get help quickly. Residents get assistance with daily things like getting dressed, bathing, taking medicine, and transferring, as well as meals prepared by a professional chef with restaurant-style options and choices for special diets including allergies and diabetes, which means there's always something to eat that fits a person's needs. There are private and semi-private rooms with private bathrooms, and each has a kitchenette, TV, telephone, and high-speed internet so people can make themselves comfortable, and they've got fitness rooms, spa or sauna areas, walking paths and gardens, a library, arts and activity rooms, and plenty of cozy nooks to spend some quiet time. People can join in with daily games, movie nights, music groups, outdoor programs, and plenty of resident-run or volunteer-based activities, so there's always something to do, and the Alzheimer's unit holds its own specialized events and has trained staff for both dementia and PTSD care. There's a chapel, a meditation room, and chaplain services, plus a big focus on veterans supporting each other as a community, and the guiding style at the home is called the Touchstone Experience, aiming to glorify God through care. Housekeeping and laundry are done for everyone, and meal service is included, and the place helps with transportation-medical and regular needs-so folks can get where they're going, and there's a parking area for visitors and residents, too. If somebody needs skilled nursing, long-term health care, short-term rehabilitation after a hospital stay, or respite care when the family has to step away, the home provides all types, including therapies like physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Social services and community engagement programs are built in, and the staff puts extra focus on care plans that are unique to each veteran, making sure medical and personal needs get the right kind of support. The home's more than just a building-it's a spot where veterans live together and help each other, with services built for the people who served, including their spouses and Gold Star parents, and everything's organized to be simple, safe, supportive, and respectful of each person's experience and history.