Mission Statement
The Illinois Veterans' Home at Quincy is responsible for providing economical and quality long-term care for veterans and their spouses which includes domiciliary care, intermediate care, and skilled care. These services are provided by a multi-disciplinary group of health care professionals as well as an array of supportive staff. These services are directed to provide multiple physical services as well as restorative services to maintain maximum functioning capacity.
IVHQ Virtual Tour - "Fifer Infirmary and Hammond Hall"
History and Facility Description
In 1885, the 34th Illinois General Assembly passed legislation to establish a soldiers' and sailors' home for disabled Illinois veterans of the Mexican and Civil Wars. On June 1, 1886, Governor Richard Oglesby decided on Quincy as the site of the new home. On October 19th of that same year, the Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Home was formally dedicated. (The name was changed in June, 1973, to the "Illinois Veterans Home at Quincy"
The Home is the largest and oldest veterans home of the four in Illinois and one of the larger and older veterans homes in the country.
The peak of membership was reached in 1909, when there were 1,654 members. Today, nearly 450 members call the facility home. Over 70 of the 102 counties in Illinois are represented within the current membership.
The Home has often been labeled as "the city within the city" because of its size and unique set up. The facility is comprised of over 25 buildings totaling just under one million gross square feet and sits upon 210 beautiful acres on the northern edge of Quincy. It is equipped with its own post office, bank, assembly hall, guest house, mini post exchange, chapel, cemetery, lake, animal park, museum, and several military-related historical sites. The Home also has its own publication and television station.
All utility systems; water, sewer, gas, electricity, telephone, and data networks are owned and maintained by the Home. Approximately five miles of streets and two bridges serve the grounds.
The Home offers all levels of health care ranging from domiciliary to skilled nursing care and two Alzheimer's units. Members are assigned by medical staff to the unit that best fits their needed level of care. Four full-time physicians and over 330 RNs, LPNs, and VNACs provide 24-hour a day, 7-days a week medical coverage. Besides the extensive medical department, the Home is staffed with social services, activities, accounting, dietary, laundry, housekeeping, business office, security, and maintenance departments. A state-of-the-art multi therapy center is the latest addition to the Home.
State and local veteran organizations, along with an outstanding volunteer program have a tremendous impact on the Home and the members. The time, talent, and financial contributions of all the veterans organizations should never be underestimated!
Rich in history and steeped in tradition, the Illinois Veterans Home at Quincy is more than a just another retirement community; it is truly, the "land of the free and the home of the brave."