The family of Scott Woolley, 58, a resident of the VA hospital long term care area for the past 11 years, gathered in front of the VA WNY Heatlhcare System signs at Redfield Parkway and Richmond avenue on Monday morning.
Tracy Matheis, Scott’s sister, organized the family and they met at the entryway to the VA at 8:00am with homemade signs, pleading with the public and the VA to allow veteran’s to be able visit with their families. Matheis says enough is enough.
“We think its time for a visit, veterans are not prisoners,” says Tracy.
Scott has not been able to visit with his family for 380 days.
“Its not good, Scott has a nephew he has never seen, he’s 9 months old, he has missed loads of things in our family, my kids are one year older. I think mental health is an issue for all of the veterans here.”
Tracy says she was told the VA would have to revisit their visitation policy before visits are scheduled. She says all the veterans have been vaccinated for weeks, but staff keep turning up positive and the facility needs to be 21 days free of COVID for visits to occur.
“We could have visits outside, its warm enough, it would be safe,” says Steve Matheis, Scott’s brother-in-law.
Mike Woolley, Scott’s brother, says he doesn’t want his brother to feel he was abandoned by his family.
“It’s time now to let these vets know that they haven’t been deserted and we have had enough.”