NORTHAMPTON — City and state officials Thursday gathered at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Leeds to officially unveil a recently renovated, multimillion-dollar nursing care unit.
The local veterans’ hospital was greenlighted in 2009 to receive $5.8 million from the federal government to renovate its Community Living Center, an upgrade officials there said is crucial to serving injured veterans.
Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz and U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, were among those who helped cut the ribbon at the center, which served as the official unveiling of the area.
Duane Gill, associate director for VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System, said the center has been open since August, but that officials wanted to commemorate Veterans Day by showcasing the new space to the public. Roughly three dozen people joined the officials at the center Tuesday to celebrate the completion of the project.
The Community Living Center, which accommodates up to 70 veterans, is tucked away on the second floor of Building 1, which generally serves as the administrative quarters for the hospital. Lengths of stay in the center range from a few months to years, depending on a patient’s needs.
“This was our priority because this was just unused space,” Gill said. “It’s like anything — you move into a new space, everyone is going to feel better.”
Among the additions to the roughly 20,000-square-foot space are private patient rooms and bathrooms, new communal spaces for family visits and patient lifts for those who have trouble walking or are immobile.
Gill added that the upgrades have been a well-received addition to the center.
“When you get a new space that’s purpose-built, for what it’s supposed to be — you get them all new equipment, new kitchens, new dayrooms — everybody loves it,” he said. “It turned out fantastic. It’s been really good.”
“We have to be sure to take care of our veterans,” Narkewicz said following the ribbon-cutting. “It’s great to see they’ve made this really important investment. It’s even more important we recognize (veterans’) service, and serving them the way they served their country.”
McGovern echoed the mayor’s sentiment, saying that, on Veterans Day, “Politicians get up, and they say ‘thank you,’ … but our veterans need more than just words. They need investments and actions.”
“And the best way to say thank you to our veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country,” he continued, “is to make sure they have the quality health care they deserve.”
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.