HOLYOKE –  The Coalition for the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home is pushing back against the state’s recommendations and assessment for future improvements for the Home.

In a virtual press conference on Jan. 26, coalition member John Paradis explained that the coalition first formed last spring after the tragic COVID-19 outbreak at the Home. The goal, he said, was to advocate for those who had passed away at the Home, those currently living there, future residents, staff and family members of residents. Additionally, he said, “This is our one chance to get it right for our veterans and future generations who will need services from the commonwealth.”

Paul Barabani, who served as the Home’s superintendent from 2011 until 2015 when he retired, presented data that conflicted with the state’s study and recommendation for a 280-bed facility. He said in a 2010 survey done by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) it was found that at the Home there were “deficiencies on room size.” He then went on to say in a 2012 survey done by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) of the 278 VA authorized beds, “less than 5 percent met VA standards.”

Barabani then went on to use data from his time at the Home, when they had been approved for the VA State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program, which according to the VA website “is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the states to construct, renovate, or repair state-owned and operated nursing homes, domiciliaries, or/ adult day health facilities.” The program allows the VA to “participate in up to 65 percent of the cost of construction or acquisition of state nursing homes or domiciliaries or for renovations/repairs to existing state homes.” Barabani said to participate the state must contribute 35 percent in matching funds, applications to the grant program must be submitted by April 15 and the state must commit to matching the funds by Aug. 1.

During the FY-13 year, Barabani explained that the program had approved $76,080,156 in grant funds for a “120 private room addition” and to “renovate 150 beds” in semi-private rooms. However, he said in August of 2013 the state failed to verify the matching funds of $40,966,226. Again in FY-14 Barabani said the program approved $1,628,289 to establish an adult health care program at the Home. However, in August of 2014 he said the state once again failed to verify the matching funds, this time in the amount of $875,771.

He then went on to reference the three scenarios outlined in the state’s Rapid Planning Report for the Home that had been completed in November of 2020 (https://www.mass.gov/doc/soldiers-home-in-holyoke-rapid-planning-report). The report outline three possible recommendations for the Home. The first recommendation included two projects and was to build a 120 bed addition to the Community Living Center and complete a 150 bed renovation. The final option proposed by the state’s study was to replace the entire facility. The report stated, “If the replacement option is pursued, the work will likely be a 180-204 bed facility.”

Barabani, however, said all three projects outlined in the report simply won’t work. “We believe the data they used understates the true need for care [and] doesn’t account for the waitlist,” he said. From the data he had from his time at the Home, Barbani said that 40 percent of veterans who applied to the Home died while waiting for a spot to open up for them at the facility. Additionally, he said a 180-204 bed facility replacement did not account for the increase of Vietnam and post 9/11 era veterans, VA overflow, historic demand, an increase in Alzheimer’s Disease, an increase in women veterans, an increase in need for veterans who need behavioral health resources, and the inclusion of National Guard and Active Reserve members in the projection, as there have been more frequent activations.

He said while the coalition supported the replacement of the facility, they believed a 280-bed facility was a more accurate project to account for all the factors and support the Home would need. The state, he explained, had used 235 residents “as a base figure” for the study. However, he said that was the “lowest figure at the Home in history.” He said, “When I left 265 was a daily figure, 270 was a base for the 2012 project.” Also in the coalition’s recommendations was the creation and implementation of an adult day health care program.

At the Jan. 26 conference, Paradis explained the next step for the project would be the discussion that took place during the Board of Trustees meetings for the Home on Jan. 27.

At its Jan. 27 meeting, the Board of Trustees of the Holyoke Soldiers Home gave initial approval for a plan to replace the aging and outdated structure with a new facility but with one major condition: make it bigger.

Members of the board voted to approve the plan if the commonwealth adds another floor to the building in order to accommodate what they see as a growing need for the Home. State officials attending the meeting said they would bring the request back to Boston for consideration.

The board will be taking a final vote at its meeting on Feb. 9.

Representatives of the architectural company Payette and Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) pushed back, stating the plan was based on the Veterans’ Administration (VA) forecasts for future use. The plan, which has been developed by the commonwealth, must be approved shortly in order to make the April 15 deadline to apply for federal funding through the VA. If the deadline is not met, the state would have to wait another year to apply for the monies.

Alda Rego, assistant secretary for Administration and Finance of EOHHS, said the trustees were playing “a very dangerous game.” She explained the funding in 2021 may be more competitive in 2022. She stressed there is little time left for major alterations.

Trustee Kevin Jourdain said, “I’m not just going to approve a mistake.” He and other trustees advocated for a larger capacity facility.

The chair of the Board, Major General Gary Keefe, asked “Can we definitely add another story?” Rego replied that she could not answer but she would be “happy to take it back to the team.”

In the public speak-out portion of the meeting, Cheryl Malandrinos, whose father-in-law died of COVID-19 while a resident of the Home, said while the commonwealth may want veterans to spend as much of their life at their own residence, the health problems they can face are considerable. Her father-in-law suffered from Parkinson’s Disease and then developed dementia. The house he owned had to be sold to pay for his care as the cost was $2,000 more a month than his income.

She noted 40 percent of the potential residents die while on the waiting list for the Home. She supported the additional beds.

Ganesh Ramachandram, the senior project manager at The Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, explained a project of this size normally take nine to 12 months to plan, but this one has been done in four months.

Scott Parker, a principal at Payette explained the new design. The new building, if construction starts in 2022, would not be completed until 2028. The new building would be built alongside the existing building, which would be demolished once the new facility is complete. That approach would save 20 months on construction and $7.5 to $11 million in costs, Parker added.

There would be no interruption of services to residences. The new facility would have 180 to 204 long-term beds, as well as having the capacity for 40 to 50 people for the adult health out-patient program. The design would also enhance infection control.

Several trustees asked if behavioral health services would be offered and Parker said it has not been decided at this time.

Parker noted the location of the Home poses challenges. The new seven-floor building would be built to establish a connection to the scenery at the top of the hill, he added.

“There is the perspective there is a sweet spot on what we can do on top of the hill,” he said.

Jourdain asked what was more important: more beds or views? He added, “There’s a need for those beds.”

When told the data about future needs comes from the VA itself, Jourdain noted the history of the facility and how it had to be enlarged. “Experts universally have the reputation for being wrong,” he added.
 

State Rep. Pat Duffy, who also serves on the Oversight Committee for the Home, told Reminder Publishing she agreed that a renovation and rebuild is needed, and saw “both state and federal support for that.” She said she believed the coalition “raise[d] compelling points, especially in their analysis of the waiting list population.”

“I do believe a new Home will be built on the site of our current facility, that the political will exists to make that crucial investment for our veterans,” she said. “I don't know for sure where we will end up in size and number of beds but I have promised them that their voices will be important and that these advocates and families of those who tragically and unnecessarily lost their lives have an open door to me.”

Sen. John Velis, who also serves on the Oversight Committee, said he believed a new Home was a need. “A new Holyoke Soldiers’ Home building is absolutely necessary and I strongly believe that any plans must take the future needs of veterans into account,” he said. “We cannot predict future military conflicts nor can we anticipate how many future National Guard and Reserve members of our armed forces will achieve Veteran status. A new Home needs to take this into account, and the bed capacity should be expanded, not diminished.”

He continued, “Similarly, the challenges that our next generation of Veterans will face are going to be different from what we face now. We are going to have Veterans with amputations, with traumatic-brain injuries, with burn pit effects, who are going to require different levels of care. A new facility is badly needed, but it needs to have the capacity and resources necessary to be sustainable for years to come.”