ROCKY HILL, Conn. (WTIC Radio)—State and local leaders, including Governor Ned Lamont, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Connecticut Veterans Home and Hospital Wednesday in celebration of two major projects done at the facility.
The projects at the Rocky Hill hospital include a fire alarm and sprinkler upgrade to replace outdated and malfunctioning alarm systems and several Americans with Disabilities Act enhancements.
State Commissioner for the Department of Veteran Affairs Thomas Saadi said these enhancements address long-needed upgrades to the residential facility.
"These included new powered doors throughout the facility, improvements to elevators, new ramps, lifts for wheelchairs and scooters, improved signage and updated lighting," Saadi said.
According to Saadi, nearly $6 million state and federal VA (Veterans Affairs) dollars funded the two projects which took about 5 to 6 years to do from planning to completion.
Feedback from veterans, staff members and visitors has been incredibly positive, Saadi said.
One particular entrance door at the facility, Saadi shared, had been complained about for many years because it was difficult to get through for veterans with limited mobility.
Now, there is an updated motion-detector and button-operated automatic double door system that is easy to go through, Saadi said.
"These are not just improvements to a building. They really are issues of access, quality of life for our current veterans and staff and also for those generations in the future that will need to utilize our programs and services here at our campus," Saadi said.
Other improvements in the residential facility are still underway, he said.
Renovations are currently ongoing, he said, turning 4-people rooms to semi-private rooms with new privacy walls and updated furniture.
An improvement and expansion project has also just been completed at the State Veterans Cemetery, Saadi said. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is being planned for that in the next month or so, he said.