Holyoke veterans home reopens with 234 beds after pandemic deaths

The Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke opened to the public Thursday after a $400 million renovation. The rededication marks six years since the former Soldiers' Home suffered a severe outbreak of COVID-19.

At least 76 veterans died at the facility during the early stages of the pandemic. Governor Maura Healey addressed those losses during the ceremony. She described the location as bittersweet for families who lost loved ones there.

The rebuilt campus offers space for 234 residents. Most of the 234 rooms are single occupancy units. The facility includes long-term care beds, a memory care unit, and potential space for an adult day health program.

Frank Horn, a veteran who served in the 1960s, attended the event. He called the new home a better place for veterans. He noted that the service members who are currently living there and those who have passed deserve the care.

Dr. Eric Goralnick, the state secretary of veterans services, apologized to families for late invitations to the ceremony. He stated that the focus remains on moving forward with the new facility. Rep. Richard Neal, a Democrat from western Massachusetts, said the community should remember those who kept the pandemic memories front and center.

Debbie Moulton, whose father died at the home, expressed mixed feelings about attending. She noted that some families received invitations only this week. The home currently has a waiting list and expects to have full staffing and occupancy by next year.