Future Uncertain for Mentally Ill Patients, Ehrlich Closing Hospital

[diamond14]

Future Uncertain for Mentally Ill Patients Ehrlich Proposes Closing Hospital to Cut Costs

As the Maryland General Assembly debates the proposal by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) to close Crownsville Hospital Center, a cost-saving measure prompted by the severe state budget crisis, the 200 mentally ill patients who live there and their families are wondering what will happen to them. The shuttering of the sprawling campus in central Anne Arundel County could begin as soon as July.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1928-2004Jan31.html

[madrchsod]

1. maybe they`ll dump them

on the streets like il. did. or maybe there will be enough group homes that can take them. after they close it ,the state will probaly turn it into a prison.

[flamingyouth]

2. This is happening all over, sadly

Between the conservatives who want to slash all social spending and other, possibly well-meaning people who want everyone "mainstreamed," what this will mean is more people on the streets, ultimately.

My aunt is severely developmentally disabled and lives in a state-run facility here in Washington. At age 57, she is one of the youngest people there. I don't know what is happening to younger people with similar physical problems, but they're not being cared for in the same manner. She lives in a nice place, a cluster-type apartment facility with 10 other people. At one point, the state wanted to house sex offenders there as well; it's an ongoing struggle.

[madrchsod]

3. in il. before a scandal broke the practice open

to the public. companies were buying old nursing homes or other complexes to house mentally ill and mentally retarted. to make more money they had prisoners who were on work release in the general population. sexual and other assualts. these were closed down several years ago,thank god and at least in this area we do have a decent system in place to house these people in a home like setting.