Cheyenne’s First VA Medical Foster Home: What the VA Article Means for Veterans and Families
Essential LivingSupport, LLC - Nahomy Y. Brown , Director of Operations
When the Cheyenne VA Health Care System published a story announcing the first VA Medical Foster Home in its service area, it was a proud and humbling moment for my family and for Essential Living Support, LLC. The article highlights a new option for Veterans who need long term care in a real home instead of a large facility, and it features the work my wife, Nahomy, and I are doing right here in Cheyenne, Wyoming as the first approved caregivers in this program.
In this post, I want to share what that VA article is about, what VA Medical Foster Home care actually looks like, and why it matters so much for Veterans and families in our community.
What the VA article announces
The VA story explains that Cheyenne now has its first VA approved Medical Foster Home. This is a private home where a trained caregiver lives with up to three Veterans and provides hands on, around the clock support for daily needs. It is designed for Veterans who might otherwise need nursing home level care but would do better in a smaller, home like environment.
The article also emphasizes that:
Veterans in a Medical Foster Home receive ongoing care through VA Home Based Primary Care, so nurses and providers come to the home on a regular schedule.
Daily routines are built around what the Veteran enjoys, such as reading, music, light exercise, time outdoors, and conversation.
This model gives Veterans in our region another choice, especially in an area where long term care options can be limited.
My role as a VA Medical Foster Home caregiver
In the VA story, my wife and I are introduced as the first caregivers approved under the Medical Foster Home program in the Cheyenne VA service area. I am a U.S. Army Veteran with a background in healthcare administration, and together we have years of experience supporting people in home based settings.
For us, opening our home to another Veteran is deeply personal. My goal is simple. I want the Veteran who lives here to feel the same sense of safety, respect, and belonging I wanted for the people I served with in uniform. This is not just a job. It is an extension of my service.
What a VA Medical Foster Home looks like in practical terms
A Medical Foster Home is more than a spare bedroom. It is a complete living environment built around the needs of a Veteran who requires significant help each day.
In our home, that can include:
Help with bathing, dressing, and moving safely around the house
Assistance with meals, hydration, and nutrition
Medication reminders and coordination with VA medical providers
Support with toileting and personal hygiene
Structured routines that reduce anxiety and confusion
Meaningful activities that match the Veteran’s interests and abilities
At the same time, the Veteran remains under the care of the VA team. Doctors, nurses, social workers, and other professionals come to the home to monitor health conditions, adjust care plans, and support both the Veteran and the caregiver.
For Veterans and adults who need hands on daily support, our team also offers personal care services in Cheyenne, WY to help with bathing, dressing, grooming, mobility, and medication reminders in a respectful, person centered way.
Why this matters in Cheyenne and the surrounding area
Cheyenne and the broader region that the VA serves include many rural communities. Travel distances, winter weather, and limited facility options can make traditional nursing homes or frequent clinic visits very challenging. For some Veterans, being moved into a large institution far from familiar surroundings can be overwhelming.
The Medical Foster Home model helps address that by:
Keeping the setting small and personal
Bringing VA health care into the home instead of sending the Veteran out repeatedly
Allowing daily life to unfold in a real household, not a unit or wing
For families, this can provide peace of mind that their loved one is closely supported in a stable environment while still receiving the clinical oversight they need.
Caregiver with disabled Veteran
How Essential Living Support fits into the bigger picture
Essential Living Support, LLC operates at the intersection of Veteran care and services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In addition to our Medical Foster Home, we provide:
Life skills development
Personal care and daily living support
Social and community integration
Homemaker services
Respite options for Veterans and adults with disabilities
In addition to our Medical Foster Home, Essential Living Support, LLC also provides 24/7 respite care in Cheyenne, WY for individuals who need short term or emergency support in a safe, licensed home setting.
This combination allows us to support Veterans whose needs cross multiple systems, such as those who live with both service related conditions and developmental or cognitive challenges. We work closely with VA teams, case managers, and families to create a consistent, person centered plan that honors each Veteran’s history, preferences, and goals.
What this recognition means to us
Being featured by the VA is not just positive publicity. It is validation that this model of care is needed in our area and that the work happening inside our home is aligned with VA standards for safety and quality. I see it as an invitation for more Veterans, families, and professionals to learn about Medical Foster Homes and consider whether this might be the right fit.
It also raises awareness that caregivers like us exist in the community. Many people simply have never heard of a VA Medical Foster Home. They know about nursing homes and assisted living, but not this option in between. The article helps change that.
How to learn more and read the original VA story
If you would like to read the original VA article about Cheyenne’s first VA Medical Foster Home, you can find it here on the official VA website:
Cheyenne VA approves first Medical Foster Home in its service area
https://www.va.gov/cheyenne-health-care/stories/cheyenne-va-approves-first-medical-foster-home-in-its-service-area
If you are a Veteran, spouse, family member, or case manager and you are wondering whether a Medical Foster Home might be appropriate, I am happy to talk it through with you. We can review your situation, discuss what level of support is needed, and compare options in and around Cheyenne.
You can also explore more about our services and approach throughout this website, including our full guide to VA Medical Foster Home care in Cheyenne and our other home and community based supports for Veterans and adults with disabilities.
