The Lawton Veterans Home has reached its highest resident census since 2020, the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs announced Thursday.
Filling long term care beds is a direct measure of meeting veteran needs and reflects ODVA’s mission to improve outcomes for Oklahoma veterans and support their families.
Executive Director James Bynum said the milestone reflects the work of ODVA employees across the state. “Reaching this level of occupancy shows that we are meeting demand for long term care while strengthening the system that supports our veterans,” he said.
Lawton is one of ODVA’s flagship veteran homes and plays a central role in serving one of Oklahoma’s largest veteran populations. Oklahoma is home to more than 275,000 military veterans and their families, and ODVA employs nearly 1,900 staff statewide – including approximately 250 team members at the Lawton Veterans Home.
The facility, authorized in 1997 and completed in 2003, now operates at 91.5% capacity with 183 residents.
When veteran homes operate with strong census numbers, they can maintain stable staffing, sustain programming, and reinvest in services that directly benefit residents. ODVA credits the collective work of its teams – clinical staff, support personnel, administrators, and partners – for creating the conditions that improve outcomes for veterans statewide.
ODVA continues to strengthen access to long term care “by improving outreach and making it easier for veterans and families to connect with the services they need,” Bynum said. Efforts include expanded communication tools, updated digital resources, and a single statewide phone number for veteran support.
Oklahoma’s veteran homes offer skilled nursing care, therapy services, recreational programs, transportation for medical appointments, and specialized memory care. Eligibility is determined by federal regulations and VA disability ratings, and the homes are structured to meet a broad range of long term care neds.
“ODVA remains focused on supporting veterans and their families,” Bynum said. “We encourage anyone with long term care needs or questions to contact us so we can assist.”
The Lawton Veterans Home is a notable 200-bed long-term care facility that offers skilled nursing, intermediate care, and specialized services for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.
As one of Oklahoma’s premier veteran’s facilities, it features recreational amenities such as a fishing pond with an accessible dock, a walking track, and accessible transportation for group outings, along with a chapel and an auditorium for community engagement.
The home is federally approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and licensed by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.