Massachusetts National Guardsmen Continue to Support the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke

Photo By Sgt. Samuel Keenan | HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE--Val Liptak, the interim superintendent of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, addresses Mass. National Guardsmen before they enter the facility in Holyoke, Mass., April 1, 2020. The Soldiers’ Home, a long term care facility for veterans, is the location of an outbreak of COVID-19. Liptak briefed the soldiers that the facility was understaffed and that “I just need people to be with the veterans and to get them what they need.” The soldiers, who are mostly medically trained personnel, are scheduled to remain on hand at the Soldiers’ Home to help care for the residents there as COVID-19 infections increase across the country. As she wrapped up her brief, Liptak stated, “Let’s get to work, they [the veterans] need our attention.” As the soldiers were donning their protective gear after Liptak’s brief, Army 1st Sgt. Efrain Quinones echoed Liptak’s sentiment when he said in a booming voice, “let’s go forth and do great things!” (Massachusetts Army National Guard photo by Army Spc. Samuel D. Keenan)  

HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES

04.01.2020

Story by Staff Sgt. Kenneth Tucceri 

65th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

HOLYOKE, Mass. – Massachusetts National Guard soldiers and airmen are continuing to support the health and safety of the veterans of the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. In addition to providing COVID-19 tests for the resident veterans and staff, the National Guard is working with the leadership to assist in varying day–to–day operations.

“I think it is a gift to have the whole community rally together to support our veterans and the soldiers’ home to get us back on our feet and heading in the right direction,” said Val Liptak, administrator of the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke.

One critical task that guardsmen are conducting is to provide nutritional care to the veterans here.

“Our mission is to help provide comfort and care by feeding and hydrating over 100 vets,” said Army Lt. Col. Chad Cormier, commander of the 126th Brigade Support Battalion.

“Three times a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. We are going to help the nursing staff here at the hospital to make sure all the soldiers get their meals consistent with dietary needs,” said Cormier.

To best assist the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, the National Guard will work closely with the home’s staff and administration to provide these critical health services.

“We have 30 non–healthcare providers that are helping to feed the veterans,” said Cormier.
“They are supervised by six medics, who are supervised by four nurses, in conjunction with hospital administration.”

Helping the 126th BSB perform their duties safely, a team of soldiers from the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Task Force, Massachusetts Army National Guard, are present to individually fit the soldiers with N95 masks, gloves, gowns and other pertinent personal protective equipment.

“We are informing people on how to properly don PPE,” said Army Sgt. Brian Ernst, a non-commissioned officer in charge of search and extraction, CBRN Task Force.

Spc. Luis Williams, a mechanic with the 126th BSB, has obtained his PPE and, along with the other soldiers, has been briefed by the soldiers’ home staff and military leadership on how to safely provide food and hydration to the veterans.

“We want to help veterans in need,” said Williams. “We want to be protective during the COVID-19 outbreak. We want to be firm with our cleanliness. We are just making sure to take all the necessary precautions.”

The National Guard is fully committed to assisting the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke and its veteran residents. The assistance is ongoing. Further tasks are developing in addition to COVID-19 testing of the veterans and staff, nutritional care, facility sterilization and maintenance.

• Date Taken: 04.01.2020
• Date Posted: 05.03.2020 10:45
• Story ID: 369051
• Location: HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, US