Page 90 - South Mississippi Living - November, 2015

GOLDEN YEARS premier retirement community CARING FOR OUR
story by Lynn Lofton
photos by James Edward Bates
Army Air Corps and WWII Veteran Jack Oyster.
The Armed Forces Retirement Home sits on 47 beautiful acres in Gulfport overlooking the Mississippi Sound. It grew out of the Naval Home that opened in 1833 in Philadelphia, Penn. In 1976, the home relocated to Gulfport, and in
1991 by an act of Congress became the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH), combining the Naval
Home and the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, D.C.
Two facts that may not be widely known about the AFRH are that it’s for retired military
enlisted men and women — not officers and not military widows and widowers — and the home is not financially supported by
taxes. It’s supported by money from several sources that goes into an interest earning trust fund. A 50 cent withholding each month from all active duty military goes
into the trust fund along with fines and forfeitures. All residents pay fees based on their income and level of care. Other income
sources include donations, allotments and investments in government securities.
Currently, there are 535 residents of which 57 are women. The oldest resident is 100 years of age and the youngest is 62. The average age is 82. The majority are veterans
with 20 or more years of active duty service, although there are other eligibility categories. “They are a remarkable group,” said Christopher
Alexander, admissions officer.
The AFRH was heavily damaged in Hurricane Katrina and re-opened
in 2010 with all new facilities, amenities and state-of-the-art technology.
THIS SPECIAL GOLDEN YEARS ISSUE BROUGHT TO YOU BY OUR PRESENTING SPONSORS:
Community Rehab Physical Therapy Centers
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