Grand opening held for new Illinois Veterans' Home at Quincy

QUINCY, Ill. (WAND) - A grand opening was held for the new Illinois Veterans' Home at Quincy Monday.

The $300 million investment project includes a 260,000-square-foot long-term care facility and an 80,000-square-foot independent living residence.

Governor JB Pritzker and other state leaders attended the opening. Pritzker said, "Illinois' veterans deserve the very best care and comfort. This new home at Quincy honors their service with state-of-the-art facilities that prioritize dignity, safety, and community. It represents the very vest of what Rebuild Illinois was created to do - to invest in people, not just projects."

The project included a campus rehabilitation involving existing infrastructure, utilities, and landscaping.

Seven buildings were demolished. The Neilson Dining Facility got a full renovation. The upgraded facility includes a multi-purpose space, administrative offices, and stores.

The new facility has the capacity to support 467 residents and currently employs 417 staff. The domiciliary, an independent living space, welcomed its first residents in January. It offers 88 private studio and one-bedroom apartments with accommodations big enough for resident spouses and children.

The long-term care building has private rooms and bathrooms for 210 residents. It welcomed its first residents in September.

Living areas include seating, fireplaces, and televisions.

Laundry, mechanical equipment, and meal preparation in the LTC are managed in a tunnel that runs through the building's basement.

The Illinois Veterans' Home at Quincy is the oldest and largest Illinois Veteran home. It was founded in 1886 as the Soldier and Sailor's Home.