“We’re predicting in the next few years the demand for skilled nursing will rise,” Bell said.

The proposal for a new home has the support of the Missouri Veterans of Foreign Wars, which has been lobbying for years to expand access to state services for people who served in the military.

Dewey Riehn, legislative chairman of the Missouri VFW, said adding to the number of beds currently offered could shorten waiting periods for an estimated 2,000 veterans who are waiting for space to open up.

“We view the governor’s call for a study as getting the process started. Hopefully it will culminate within a year or two,” Riehn said. “It would normally take from the time a veteran asks to enter a home anywhere from nine to 12 months to be placed in a facility.”

“We’ve needed another home for several years,” Riehn said.

No specific location has been identified. Part of the feasibility study will identify where there is the greatest need for a new facility based on proximity to existing homes and the demand by veterans in the region, Bell said.

“At this time there aren’t any formal plans for location at this time,” Bell said. “We haven’t looked that far down the road.”