Veteran CLC residents use their voices to promote leadership, change, and community

At the W.G. (Bill) Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center’s CLC, known locally as the Carolina Pride CLC, Veterans are doing just that - using their voices for change through the CLC’s resident council.

A CLC is a short and long-term VA nursing home for Veterans. The facility offers a place where Veterans can receive nursing home level of care, which includes assistance with the activities of daily living, paired with skilled nursing and medical care.

There are over 100 VA Community Living Centers across the country. 

Leading with service

The unique body of elected CLC residents has the distinct duty of representing all Veterans and voicing their needs and concerns to the correct leadership channels with the goal of coming up with a real solution.

For council mayor and U.S. Army Vietnam War-era  Veteran Kat Ryan, 79, leadership comes naturally for this former drill sergeant. “I try to work on getting these fellas out of here and going out into the community,” said Ryan. “When we go out, we are representing the VA and the military that we served.”

The Denton, Texas, native is a mother of three and a grandmother of seven, with plenty of spunk and energy to help lead the council in all its activities and meetings, all while creating a legacy of strong leadership. She has been serving on the council for about ten years.

“My dad was a good man, and he taught me to listen. He taught me to take it upon myself to get things done,” explained Ryan. “You don’t sit around and wait on someone else to do it.”

Rowan County native and U.S. Army Vietnam War Veteran and Council Vice-Mayor David Hand, 77, knows a thing or two about leadership and being a man of the people. “I like to stay close to the people. I love being here. Kat keeps us straight (laughs),” said Hand.

The grandfather of nine served as a mechanic in Vietnam and recalls working on various types of heavy machinery. “When I got over to Vietnam, I was a mechanic on everything, forklifts, you name it, I’ve done it.”

Hand has also served in leadership positions in the Veteran community such as the U.S. Army Honor Guard and as a commander with American Veterans (AMVETS).

How the council works

Like our nation’s voting system, every November, the council holds an election for that upcoming year’s council body which includes electing a mayor, vice-mayor and about five other representatives which embody all CLC residents and their  five neighborhoods.

The ballots are collected at the November meeting after candidates have a chance to campaign. After ballots are tallied, and the newly elected or re-elected representatives are revealed, the winners begin their term the following January. 

“It's a way for the Veterans here to feel like their voices are heard,” said Brittany Plummer, a CLC and hospice recreation therapist, and a staff facilitator for the council. “We handle everything just like anybody else would in any other department. If there's a complaint or a concern or anything like that, I write up a memo and follow up with it at the following meetings.”

Held on the third Wednesday of each month at the CLC town hall, the council meetings are a chance for residents to share ideas, recommendations, upcoming community outings, vote on old business and discuss new business. It is a supportive process for the residents to voice and resolve any concerns that may affect their quality of life in the CLC.

Guest speakers from various Salisbury VA services also make an appearance at the monthly meetings. 

The council also takes advantage of going on community outings to local football and baseball games, horse farms, and restaurants. While on the Salisbury VA campus, the council also helps to promote and plan the annual CLC senior prom and bingo events. 

“It’s very meaningful for CLC Veterans to have the resident council as it gives them a chance for their voices to be heard – it’s just a positive outlet,” added Plummer. 

The council leadership strongly encourages CLC residents to join the monthly meetings as the council is always open to new ideas and participation. 

For more information on this story, email the Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs at salisburyvapublicaffairs@va.gov. 

About the Salisbury VA Health Care System

At the Salisbury VA Health Care System, our mission is to fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors. 

Learn more at www.va.gov/salisbury-health-care.