Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia thanks state and local leaders for working together to make these historic investments into veterans care a reality.
Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis
HOLYOKE — In a celebration of historic investments for veterans in Western Massachusetts, the Holyoke Veterans Home received a visit from Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Veterans Services Secretary John Santiago and other legislative and local leaders on Sept. 13.
These milestones include increased engagement efforts by the Executive Office of Veterans Services and major victories for the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke such as securing license through the Department of Public Health, the implementation of a new electronic medical records system and securing the largest budget increase in the home’s history.
The turnaround at the Holyoke Veterans Home began in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which underscored the need for reform and increased investment in veteran care. Gov. Maura Healey’s administration responded by creating the Executive Office of Veterans Services, appointing Santiago as secretary and securing $263.5 million in federal funding to build a new state-of-the-art veterans home building.
“Our administration is deeply committed to supporting our veterans and their families and making sure they have the services and resources they deserve,” said Healey in a statement. “I’m so proud of the work that Secretary Santiago and his team are doing to revitalize veterans’ services across our state — from the HERO Act to the new Veterans Homes and beyond — and glad that they have the opportunity to celebrate that progress and thank our hardworking employees in Holyoke today.”
Representing the governor’s office on a visit to the Veterans Home was Driscoll, who spoke to veterans about how impressed she was with the work accomplished so far on the building of the new home, and for the investments made for veterans in the region.
“When I came up that driveway I said, ‘It’s bigger than I thought it was going to be,’” Driscoll said with a laugh. “We’re so proud to be able to make this investment, not just for all of you who will get a chance to get there when it’s completed in 2026 [or] thereabouts, but frankly generations of veterans.”
Driscoll gave credit to Santiago for his work in leading this concerted effort of investments into the veterans’ community in the state. She also thanked the staff who work with veterans every day in their mission to help them age in place comfortably.
“I really want to also just extend a heartfelt thanks to the staff. The governor and I were both touched the first time we were here seeing such caring and dedicated staff that provide the sort of services to you as if you’re family members to them. So, I just really want to recognize that I think that’s pretty special as we are working hard to become an age friendly state,” Driscoll said.
Santiago expressed appreciation for the governor’s office for working with him to form his office and expand on work with veterans across the commonwealth.
“We’re proud that as an administration, we’re investing more in the veteran community than ever before. We’re engaging more veterans than ever before,” Santiago said.
The state’s fiscal year 2025 budget allocates $87.4 million for the state’s two veterans’ homes, with $34.3 million designated for the Holyoke facility. This investment is a 14.4% increase over the last fiscal year, representing the largest budget allocation in the Home’s history and ensures the long-term sustainability of quality care for veterans.
As part of the transformation, the Veterans Home at Holyoke has successfully achieved licensure as a certified nursing home from the Department of Public Health. This licensure will ensure regular DPH surveys to monitor the quality of care and safety at the facility.
The DPH has actively partnered with the home throughout the process, providing consultative visits and expert advice. Their ongoing support, including through their Infectious Disease and Control Division plans to uphold the highest standards of care.
Additionally, the home has launched a new electronic medical records system as of Sept. 9. The system improves clinical decision-making, streamlines access to records, and boosts overall efficiency in delivering care to residents.
“This historic investment underscores our dedication to supporting veterans in every corner of the commonwealth,” added Santiago. “From licensure to the new EMR system to staffing improvements, we are proud of the strides being made at the Holyoke Veterans Home and across Western Massachusetts.”
Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia expressed many thanks to state leaders for their efforts and investments into the home and to have the home in Holyoke made him feel “beyond grateful and incredible” for the efforts made by previous generations to make the community a home for veterans.
“Just having this program and organization here period is the result of collaboration of leaders before us, before me, and is even more of a result of the work that our veterans have put in for the number one thing we cherish here in our country, and that’s the ability to self-govern,” Garcia said. “People today are working together in the different cross sectors of our government, working together to build what we see outside our window. And that’s us continuing to figure out and work together with the community, the staff and folks, the different legislatures, on how we can continue to invest in the people that have invested so much until they had no more to invest for our country. Thank you to all of our leaders in government that continue to work together and collaborate to take care of the people that love this state and this country so much.”
Launched in August 2023 and already ahead of schedule, the project is slated for completion in late 2026.
The new facility will feature 234 long-term care beds, a 30-bed memory care unit and an Adult Day Health Program, providing comprehensive, state-of-the-art care for veterans.
In March 2023, Santiago announced the completion of key steps to secure $263.5 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs State Home Construction Grant Program. With $164 million awarded this fiscal year, the project is well underway with a promise of a brighter future for veterans in Western Massachusetts.
“We have had a tremendous year for the home – I am incredibly proud of our team’s achievements including receiving full accreditation from the VA, DPH licensure, and successfully implementing electronic medical record,” said Holyoke Veterans’ Home Executive Director Michael Lazo. “These significant milestones are evidence of the hard work, dedication and collaborative spirit of our team.”
