The Alabama State Veterans Homes is among the best in the nation.
Caring for our veterans is one of the most
sacred duties we work to achieve as a state.
The VA must formally recognize and certify a facility as a
State Veterans Home and then conduct an annual survey (inspection) to make sure
the homes continue to meet VA standards. The
Bill Nichols Veterans Home in Alexander City, the Col. Robert L. Howard
Veterans Home in Pell City, and the William F. Green State Veterans Homes in
Bay Minette, recently all received zero deficiencies during the yearly federal
VA surveys. Floyd “Tut” Fann will
receive their survey later in the year.
“The Bill Nichols State Veterans
Home is honored that the US Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes the hard
work and dedication by the facility staff through the annual survey process,”
Kathryn Fuller, director of the home, said. “A deficiency free survey is
considered to be one of the highest achievements we can receive ensuring
compliance with the VA Standards of Care.”
Additionally, all four homes
earned the Bronze Star rating from the American Healthcare Association, an
award that recognizes providers across the nation that have
demonstrated their commitment to improving quality of care.
“I am
very proud of the care provided in all state veterans homes,” said W. Clyde
Marsh, commissioner of the ADVA. “We strive to have the best state veterans
homes in the nation and our employees work hard toward that goal every day. My
hat is off for the deficiency-free surveys.”
Alabama’s veterans’ homes are
living facilities that aging or chronically disabled veterans can go—based on
availability—to get assistance with daily living. The homes provide skilled
nursing and memory care and the Colonel Howard home also provides
domiciliary/assisted living care.
“The staff are good to me and always willing
to help when I ask. I enjoy the activities program and all the outings,” Albert
Arrington, a resident of the Bill Nichols home, said. Another resident, Robert
“I. J.” Mobley, chimed in. “I like living here because I made a lot of friends
here. I like talking to everyone.”
“I'm very thankful that I now live at a
facility that I can truly call ‘My Home.’ Our VA administrator and her
assistant have a hard ride every day— managing a facility of 200++ Retired
& former GIs from WWII, Korea, & Vietnam. They somehow manage to keep
us between the lines, which is difficult because we stand strong in our beliefs
wants and desires,” Frank Baumann, a resident at the Colonel Howard domiciliary
home, said. “This is a good time to say thank you to them, and the rest of the
management staff throughout this facility. Sometimes we have a quirk speedbump
and yet we always manage to cross over it or take another method around it.
From my heart—thank you very much.”
There is an application for admission to a
state veterans home which can be found at www.va.alabama.gov. The
waiting list is currently as short as four months depending on which home is
selected. Veterans may apply to multiple
homes to get the first available.