Veterans home investigated in Alabama

HMR Advantage's nursing homes in South Carolina often score good marks on state inspections, but in Alabama, the state-owned home HMR Advantage runs for veterans was the subject of a federal probe.

In addition to Veterans' Victory House in Walterboro, the company operates a home for veterans near Mobile, Ala. The state of Alabama owns the home and contracts with an HMR Advantage subsidiary for its day-to-day operations.

In December, a Justice Department investigation found the home failed to care for its residents, and "as a consequence, residents are at risk of harm or experience harm, and, in some cases, inadequate assessment and planning has contributed to the untimely deaths of residents."

Investigators determined among other things that staff members gave agitated Alzheimer's patients wrong medications and failed to investigate injuries resulting from conflicts among residents. The investigation spawned at least one lawsuit on behalf of a resident, a decorated World War II veteran who died after a fall at the facility.

Earlier this year, Alabama officials said the home was operating within state guidelines and told reporters that the Justice Department report was flawed and "grossly distorts and misrepresents the health care conditions at the home."

In an Alabama Veterans Board meeting last month, an HMR Advantage official thanked state leaders for renewing the contract to operate the home, saying, "Veterans in our home have received very good care and we look forward to moving forward in doing that over the next five years."