Facility to open in 2016
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 23, 2015) — Israel Ray has been named the administrator for the new Radcliff Veterans Center (RVC) expected to open next year, the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs announced today.
The new state-of-the-art nursing home is being built on the Community Living Center Model, which features four neighborhoods of three 10-bedroom homes each. The design provides 120 veterans with a private room and bath and family-style living room, dining room, kitchen and patio. A separate administration building will house recreation, therapy and other services. The center will have more than 200 employees.
Ray previously was the executive director of one of Kentucky’s largest continuum of care retirement communities, Christian Care Communities – Hopkinsville Campus for 6-1/2 years. His duties included overseeing the 116-bed health care center and other campus properties. Before joining Christian Care Communities, Ray was the executive director and administrator of the Masonic Home of Louisville.
Ray is a graduate of Berea College and holds a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Kentucky. As a licensed and certified nursing home administrator, Ray has been an active member of the industry association Leading Age Kentucky, and has been president of the American College of Health Care Administrators (Kentucky Chapter) for the past three years.
“I am pleased and proud to have someone of Israel’s experience and proven ability in this important position,” said Heather French Henry, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs,
The Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs began planning the Radcliff home in 2006. Construction began in July 2013 and the facility will open in 2016. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provided a $21.45 million construction grant, and the Kentucky General Assembly appropriated $18.6 million in construction funds. The U.S. Department of Defense donated 194 acres of land from Fort Knox to the Commonwealth of Kentucky for RVC.
There are an estimated 56,000 veterans in Jefferson County, 16,000 in Hardin County, 7,000 in Bullitt County and 5,000 in Oldham County, totaling more than a fourth of all the veterans in Kentucky.
RVC is Kentucky’s fourth state veterans home. Thomson-Hood Veterans Center in Wilmore opened in 1991 and Eastern Kentucky Veterans Center in Hazard and Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson opened in 2002.
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