Veterans Home of California - Redding

03/30/2026

Did you know? Today we celebrate our fabulous doctors, Dr. V and Dr. B!

March 25-31 is known as National Physicians Week across the country. We are fortunate to have two very talented, experienced, and knowledgeable doctors that work right here at our Home, providing outstanding medical care for our residents.

James B. Vogus, M.D. is certified by the American Board of Family Practice since 1991. He is also board certified in Hospice and Palliative Care. A graduate of Temple University School of Medicine, Dr. Vogus is on staff at Mercy Medical Center. Dr. Vogus is the Hospice Medical Director for Dignity Health in Shasta and Tehama counties. Dr. Vogus also currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer for the Redding Veterans Home of California.

Dr. Vogus is also a proud veteran himself, serving 11 years in the Navy and achieving the rank of lieutenant commander, and ten years in the Air Force, retiring at the rank of colonel in June of 2023.

Laura Brusett, M.D. is a family medicine doctor in Redding, California and is affiliated with Mercy Medical Center Redding. She received her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine and has been in practice for two decades. Dr. Brusett has expertise in treating chronic diabetes, Alzheimer's dementia, and non-Alzheimer's dementia and she works alongside Dr. Vogus caring for our nation's heroes at our Home.

Dr. V and Dr. B, we are grateful for your humor, your compassion, and the way you care for our residents! We couldn't have asked for a better medical team at our Home.

Thank you for all you do!

03/26/2026

Honor & Lunch: The Wall That Heals 2026 (Orland, CA)

What an incredibly special and heartwarming day for our residents. We had the honor of attending The Wall That Heals on a sunny and very windy Spring day.

The Wall That Heals is a 3/4 scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, created to honor and remember those who served and sacrificed. Standing before the wall, reading the names, and witnessing our residents reflect and remember was truly moving. You could feel the deep sense of patriotism, remembrance, and camaraderie in the air — it was a powerful experience that touched everyone in its own way. The wall has already been to Hawaii and the Los Angeles area this year and leaves this Sunday afternoon for Arizona. All in all, this year's tour includes stops in 31 cities across the United States!

It was especially meaningful to see younger generations there — schoolchildren walking alongside our veterans — learning, observing, and honoring. That connection between generations made the experience even more rewarding and special.

With over 22,000 visitors expected before it closes on Sunday, it’s clear how impactful this tribute is to so many.

We ended our day with lunch at La Corona Mexican Restaurant, where everyone enjoyed a delicious, home-cooked, authentic Mexican meal. The food was wonderful and the service was incredible — the staff took such great care of our group, making us feel welcomed and appreciated.

This was more than just an outing — it was a day of honor, reflection, connection, and gratitude.

A big thank you to the city of Orland, Glenn County, and all of the event volunteers for working so hard to bring this wonderful memorial to Northern California this year!

03/24/2026

The California Department of Veterans Affairs Tribal Veterans Mental Health Summit is a two-day gathering dedicated to honoring Native American veterans and addressing su***de prevention through culturally grounded approaches to lethal means safety. Designed to bring together Tribal leaders, tribal veterans, clinicians, service providers, and state partners, the summit offers a space for shared learning, truth-telling, and cross-sector collaboration rooted in respect and cultural understanding. Participants will have opportunities to engage in training, connect with others, and access resources that reflect the unique needs of tribal veterans.

Join us!
13-14 MAY 2026
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sycuan Casino Resort
5469 Casino Way
El Cajon, CA 92019

A courtesy room block with a special group rate has been secured for attendees. Reservations may be made by calling the Sycuan Reservations line at 1-619-445-6002 and referencing the CalVet Tribal Veteran Mental Health Summit to receive the discounted rate. The group rate is available through April 16, 2026, or until the room block is filled.

Please note that the summit will be held at Sycuan Casino Resort, which maintains a strict 21 and over policy for all guests entering the property. In accordance with venue regulations, attendance is limited to individuals who are 21 years of age or older. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we adhere to the host venue’s requirements.

Register now at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/myz4cyq

For event updates or questions, please contact us at MinorityVeterans@calvet.ca.gov or (916) 651-3054.

03/23/2026

A big thank you to KRCR News Channel 7, Chief Meteorologist Preston Donion, Anchor and Multimedia Journalist Christina Mendez, and the broadcast engineering crew.

Our residents got a special behind-the-scenes tour recently and had a blast learning about how the morning news shows are produced along with checking out the sophisticated equipment in the control room. It is unbelievable how many people and the timing it takes to make these productions a success!

Thank you to the entire staff — we loved our visit!

03/22/2026

A wonderful Sunday afternoon recently at the Riverfront Playhouse! Our residents enjoyed the play "Good People" and were completely engaged from start to finish. The cast delivered incredible performances and some great one-liners that had everyone talking long after the curtain closed.

To close out the show, several members of the cast came out to greet our residents. Our residents thanked them for such a great performance, and they even took a few photos with us, which made for a perfect ending to a beautiful day supporting our local arts community.

03/21/2026

For Ladies Day this month, our Activities team came up with a fun theme of "Back When We Blushed". What a wonderful afternoon with our ladies as we stepped back in time!

Our ladies enjoyed a light lunch together followed by a fun game where we revealed some of the classic heartthrobs from back in the day and tried to guess which gentleman made each lady blush.

There were plenty of smiles, laughter, and a little friendly debate as everyone shared their picks and reminisced about the movie stars and singers they adored years ago. It sparked wonderful memories and stories, and before long the room was filled with conversation as the ladies got to know one another even better.

It was a beautiful day full of nostalgia, laughter, and great company.

Sometimes, all it takes is a little trip down memory lane to bring out the best stories and the brightest smiles.

03/20/2026

On this stunningly beautiful first day of Spring in Redding, we'd like to highlight fantastic spring photos taken by our talented residents!

Recently, residents were encouraged to participate in a "Spring Photo Contest."

Take a look at what they submitted and let us know your favorite below!

03/18/2026

Today is National Transit Driver Appreciation Day!

We are celebrating the amazing people who keep our residents moving, whether it is across the street to the V.A. Clinic, to San Francisco or Sacramento for a baseball game, or to Mather for a medical appointment! Nowhere is too far for our wonderful transportation team, and they are known to flex their schedules and work overtime as different activities or events come up.

Jerusha, Todd, Steve, and Jim (not pictured) are incredibly attentive drivers who do everything they can to ensure resident and staff safety at all times and that we have coverage for our residents seven days a week.

Not only do they drive us to outings, events, and appointments, but they also handle the tasks below:

✅ Ensure our fleet is well maintained, in good working order, and clean.
✅ Deliver packages to residents on a daily basis.
✅ Work collaboratively to make sure our residents are dropped off and picked up on time from their appointments and outings.
✅ Perform daily maintenance checks and documentation for each of our vehicles.

Definitely most importantly, they get to know our residents and truly care for their well-being and making sure their needs are met.

Thank you to our fabulous crew of drivers - we'd go nowhere without you!

03/17/2026

Today we celebrate World Social Worker Day!

Please meet our Social Work team: Meagan, Sarah, and Julie. These ladies are invaluable to every single resident of our Home and have the biggest hearts.

The list of tasks they perform at our Home is endless, but here are a few of the services they provide to our residents:
➡ Help navigating the adjustment process for new residents.
➡ Information and referrals to community resources.
➡ Individual and/or group counseling.
➡ Questions, concerns, or problems.
➡ Assistance with creating an Advanced Health Care Directive and end of life planning.
➡ Help facilitate positive communication with families, staff, and other residents.
➡ Help residents understand their rights and responsibilities as residents.
➡ Hold monthly "Social Work Circle" meetings to provide information, encouragement, and support.
➡ Facilitate a grievance process, as needed.

These wonderful ladies are professional problem solvers for our residents!

Thank you for all you do!

03/16/2026

Today marks the beginning of Women's Military History Week, honoring the contributions, resilience, and leadership of women in all branches of the United States military.

Women have played vital roles in the military from the Revolutionary War to the present day. This observance highlights milestones such as the creation of the Women's Army Corps during World War II and the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-Black, all-woman unit that ensured frontline troops received mail.

These achievements paved the way for the full integration of women into combat and other military roles.

The Veterans Home of California - Redding is beyond proud to be home to a World War II woman veteran of the Women's Army Corps, Juliette. Juliette is 100 years old and going strong!

Thank you, Juliette, and all other women veterans and servicemembers for being trailblazers.

03/14/2026

03/13/2026

Our annual pool tournament took place over several Fridays and was filled with fantastic skills, good company, and tons of fun!

Congratulations to our 2026 champion, Mel!

🥇went to Mel from our Shasta neighborhood.
🥈went to Frank from our Lassen neighborhood.
🥉went to Michael from our McCloud neighborhood.

A big thank you to all of our residents who competed and those who cheered them on!