The restaurant-style dining area is where meals are cooked, and residents have an opportunity to participate in the preparation. The light-filled dining room offers a direct connection to the outdoors with access to the courtyard and a screened-in porch.

Each site features a town center that invites community participation and serves both residents and visiting families. These hubs include a cafe, gallery, multipurpose room, theater, therapy areas, salon, library, and meditation spaces. Therapy and rehab services are also available to off-campus veterans, strengthening regional care networks.

Following the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Small House Model, each home is organized into self-contained households of 18 private rooms with en-suite baths. Preston includes three households for 54 residents; Bemidji and Montevideo each have four households for 72 residents.

These campuses demonstrate how intentional planning and human-centered architecture can combat rural isolation, expand access to care, and strengthen family and community ties. They provide high-quality, person-centered care does not require an urban setting. By honoring place, embracing innovation, and welcoming the wider community, the Minnesota Veterans Homes establish a new standard for what veterans – and all older adults – deserve in their later years.