As a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) at the Veterans Home of California-Barstow, U.S. Army veteran Kimberly Malott has a passion for caring for the Home’s veteran residents and their spouses. She also has a passion for passing out roses—at the behest of a veteran resident who routinely bought them for the women at the Home.

“One of our veterans, who since has passed, on every Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Veterans Day, would buy roses to give to the women veterans and staff,” Malott said. “One time, the activities coordinator had already left for the day and he (Michael Kennedy) asked me to help him distribute the flowers.”

Malott, who will celebrate four years at the Home in September, enjoyed handing out the flowers and sometimes stuffed animals with Kennedy who, much like herself, counted the Veterans Home community as extended family until his death in 2022.

It represented an act of kindness—a poignant touch—that made those days special for the veterans at the Home, she said.

A native of Hawaii, Malott spent two years in the Army as a food inspector specialist evaluating dining facilities, food establishments, and warehouses. She spent much of her hitch overseas.

“I had a great time during my short tenure in the Army and was able to explore various parts of Japan and indulge in the beautiful culture and amazing food there,” Malott said.

Upon returning to civilian life, she signed on at the Barstow Home as a certified nursing assistant and began studying to become an LVN. She brings positivity to the Home each day, going beyond providing healthcare to the nearly 100 veterans and spouses living there by also promoting in-house activities for both staff and veterans. Malott is one of those people who is always willing to lend a hand. Handing a rose to a woman veteran, spouse, or a staff member makes her day, as much as it makes theirs.

This is one of a series of CalVet Connect posts introducing you to CalVet employees who are veterans of the United States Armed Forces—thus, “Veterans Serving Veterans.”

The Veterans Homes of California system of care offers affordable long-term care to older and disabled veterans as well as their eligible spouses and domestic partners. With eight facilities across the state, the services offered range from assisted living programs with minimal support to 24-hour skilled nursing care for veterans with significant clinical needs including memory care.

CalVet staff are uniquely capable of serving the needs of our veterans and provide an environment that honors their service to the country. The Veterans Homes are nationally recognized for the premier care and services they provide to California’s veterans. ​For more information on the Homes visit www.calvet.ca.gov/calvet-programs/veteran-homes.

Would you like the opportunity to serve veterans in your work? Join the CalVet team! We are dedicated to ensuring that veterans from every era, along with their families, receive the state and federal benefits and services they have earned and deserve due to their selfless and honorable military service. At CalVet, we prioritize serving veterans and their families with dignity, compassion, and a commitment to helping them achieve the highest quality of life. See our current job openings at www.calvet.ca.gov/jobs.