It is not difficult to understand the rules and regulations, policies and procedures, entitlement and eligibility factors of various government programs. Said no one ever. Chatter and comparisons abound around coffee cups and lunch counters when folks talk about what they were told/what they heard/what their neighbor said. A simple comment can become misinformation that is picked up and passed on.

With the November opening of the North Idaho Veterans Home (Post Falls), conversations are flowing, making veterans remove their U.S. Navy (or other branch of service) caps and scratch their heads.

Reliable information is best received from the true source. According to the Idaho Division of Veterans Services, applicants for this 24-hour skilled nursing facility must be a veteran (wartime or peacetime), or the spouse, widow or widower of a veteran eligible for admission to a home.

There are four specific requirements:

1) Proof of honorable service in the U.S. Military, (DD2114 or Military Discharge) showing a minimum of 90 days active duty service or discharged from military service earlier than 90 days under honorable conditions because of service connected disability.

2) Spouses, widows, or widowers eligible for nursing care must provide a copy of the veteran's honorable military service on whose service they are qualified, and proof of marriage (license or certificate) and/or a death certificate, when applicable.

3) Applicants must be a resident of the State of Idaho at the time of admission to a Home.

4) All veteran residents must also either be in receipt of or apply for a VA pension.

General information of interest: The maximum daily resident rate is $370 plus other ancillary, special items, and service charges. Each resident is liable for the payment of this charge not provided or paid for by VA, Medicaid, Medicare, or other insurance. Veterans with a disability rating of 70% or greater pay nothing, or a much lower rate because of VA assistance. The veteran DOES NOT lose or forfeit his/her VA disability or retirement pay while residing in a VA contracted nursing home. The VA Home will accept veterans for rehabilitation once the service is VA and Medicaid certified. Most of these residents utilize their Medicare Part B to cover these services.

A special addition to the North Idaho Veterans Home includes the office of the Idaho Veterans Services Officers. Scott Thorsness and Matt Ranstrom are certified to assist current residents or incoming residents to acquire additional service connected or Veterans/survivor pension benefits which can help in the cost of residency.

Would you like to go to a Taylor Swift concert? Go to Ticketmaster.com. And good luck with that.

Would you like more information about the North Idaho Veterans Home? Go to Veterans.Idaho.gov. Click on the "Veterans Homes" tab — Post Falls Home and "news." This will also give you the link for the admission application.