HOLYOKE – As state Rep. John C. Velis took the familiar drive up the hill to the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke last Friday, instead of his normal feeling of excitement at seeing his fellow veterans, Velis felt anxious.
Velis is a major with the U.S. Army Reserve and a veteran, having been deployed to Afghanistan several times. He is no stranger to the Home or its residents.
“This is a place where I have spent a lot of time,” Velis said. “I tell people all the time that if they need to smile, go visit the veterans at the Solders’ Home. But on Friday, my stomach was in knots.”
Velis, D-Westfield, visited the Home April 23 alongside his legislative colleagues Aaron Vega, D-Holyoke, and Michael Finn, D-West Springfield, for the first time since COVID-19 began devastating residents and staff there. As of April 28, 77 residents of the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke have died since March, 66 of whom have tested positive for COVID-19, with test results still pending. More than 80 staff have tested positive for the virus.
STATE REP. JOHN C. VELIS
Velis said he normally looks forward to his visits to the Home, but this was different. This was the first legislative delegation to visit the Soldiers’ Home since March 14.
“We have all been receiving updates on the status of the Soldiers’ Home and its residents from afar,” Velis said. “At the peak of this tragedy that made sense, but it’s time we get in there and get a true firsthand look at the status of the facility, its residents, and the staff.”
Velis is leading the charge for a legislative investigation into the situation at the Home during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.
There are currently several other investigations, including from the office of Gov. Charlie Baker, State Attorney General Maura Healey, federal prosecutors, and the Office of the Inspector General. Velis, vice chair of Massachusetts’ Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, believes the legislative probe will be the most thorough.
His visit last week to the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke served several purposes, including beginning to understand the situation there, how COVID-19 became so rampant at the Home, and what the Home needs moving forward.
Once the state realized how dire the virus situation was at the Home, Superintendent Bennet Walsh was placed on administrative leave and Val Liptak, former CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital in Westfield, took the helm.
Velis said last week that even when asked directly about resources needed at the Home, the previous administration said they “had enough.”
Velis learned Friday that this is not the case.
“At some point in time you can only read and hear so much about something,” Velis said. “To get a real form of understanding you need boots on the ground. You need to get in there and see the folks who have faced the brunt of this, thank them for their service — residents and staff – and be there to listen to them and their needs.”
Velis said there are funding and staffing needs that must be addressed quickly, and he expects between himself, Vega and Finn, that a request will be filed soon.
During the legislators’ visit, staff gave a send-off to a resident who passed away. Normally, Velis said the staff stand by as a coffin, draped with an American flag, is brought to the front lobby where the veteran’s loved ones await. On Friday, the family had to wait outside.
Velis said it is always an emotional ceremony, but seeing the staff say goodbye to yet another veteran and knowing their family could not be there as they passed made it even more powerful.
“I watched the staff and there wasn’t a dry eye,” Velis said. “The administrators and staff, and the National Guard that are there helping, are just amazing. They are there because these veterans have become like family to them.”
Velis said it was a hard day, but there were some bright spots.
“We walked through the halls and I was able to go in and visit with residents and every one of them had a positive outlook and good things to say about everyone there,” Velis said. “This is a population that has already survived so much.”
Velis was also able to connect with a constituent and share with his family.
“I saw the name of a resident whose family I know and I was able to talk with him and when I left the first thing I did was call his daughter and let her know I had seen her dad and he looked and sounded great,” said Velis.
Velis said early on in the COVID crisis at the Soldiers’ Home, families had difficulty connecting with loved ones or getting any information. Velis said luckily the crisis is being better managed and there is a better flow of information.
On Friday there were about 110 residents at the Home, which has 247 beds. In addition to vacancies because of deaths, some residents not showing symptoms of the virus have been transferred out of the Home. Velis hopes the virus will be mitigated and looks forward to the day when families can connect once again.
“I miss visiting the Soldiers’ Home,” Velis said. “Many of the residents are people I consider friends, people who I would often stop by to connect with and hear their personal stories. In this time of tragedy, it’s important we return the favor and check-in on them and see what support we can offer. It’s the least we can do for those who served our nation.”
