Governor hails turnaround at Holyoke Soldiers' Home, says new facility will open this fall

Governor Maura Healey visited the Holyoke Soldiers' Home on Friday to praise staff for a transformation since the COVID-19 crisis and to announce that a new facility for veterans will open this fall.

"This home has received a perfect rating from the VA," Healey said, adding that the facility also holds full certification from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. She told attendees that the legislature approved funding and the congressional delegation helped secure federal support to finish the project.

The governor highlighted several operational metrics presented during the visit: a nursing ratio she said is "double the national average," hospital and emergency room visits reported "down almost 50% below the national average," safety benchmarks above national averages on "85% of the standards," and a reported "perfect 100% score in veteran satisfaction among the residents." She credited those results to staff, leadership and the administration's policy and funding priorities.

Dr. Eric Golnneck, the Secretary of Veteran Services, emphasized the staffing and day-to-day work that he said made the improvements possible. "We're writing a new chapter here," he said, noting the facility's mix of clinical and support staff and saying the home provides dignity and compassion to its residents. Golnneck said about 119 veterans live in the building and that care is delivered by multidisciplinary teams including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, certified nursing assistants, therapists, dietary and social services staff.

Executive Director Mike Lazo described operational changes he said drove quality gains: emphasizing staff orientation and retention, strengthening the quality department, maintaining open communication with union partners, and making staff feel valued. "I want everyone that works here to be valued in their job," Lazo said, describing a focus on onboarding and ongoing training as part of the facility's improvement strategy.

Officials said the building currently employs roughly 317 full-time equivalent positions and that roughly 40 staff work across three daily shifts. Presenters noted the facility serves 119 residents, provides about 500 meals per day, and showed an average medication count of roughly 13 per resident.

Senator John Visas and Representative Pat Duffy, both on hand, praised the partnership of state and local officials, unions and the community in helping the home recover. Duffy said his own work as a former union representative at the facility made voting for the reform and funding legislation "particularly meaningful."

The administration said construction of the new Holyoke home is proceeding and remains on track to open in the fall; officials asked attendees to view the visit as an occasion to thank staff and to continue support for the residents and teams who provide daily care.

No formal votes or binding decisions were taken at the event; officials offered to take follow-up questions and additional inquiries after remarks.