I lived in a nursing home three years. I was kicked out a few weeks, after
I moved in because my care was too much for the price they were getting from
the state. A woman that ran the Kansas for the improvement in a nursing home
came to visit me and then a reporter came. His story was spread throughout
state and he got some kind of award. The state came in and provided aides
that I would hire myself to get me up and put me to bed. At the end of the
three years, the state wanted to provide less money and less aid. I was at
Craig rehab for a evaluation that the state was requiring. When it was time
for
me to come home, I was told I didn't have a place to go as I had been
evicted. I stayed with my grandma for one week and then with my mother for
three
weeks until I could get a high-rise apartment They both worked . My mother
had
three teenagers living with her in an apartment, as my parents had divorced.
A nurse was hired for the payment and I looked for my aides. This was in
1980. I was one of the first in three persons with disabilities to get care
at home.
I had this program for about one year and then the state started care from
an office with caseworkers.
It was very depressing, other residents would come in my room if the door
was open and possibly urinate on my bed. I remember one weekend when I was
gone , some staff were in my room and burned a hole in my blanket. I had
several items of clothing stolen also. There was no privacy regarding staff,
some
of them would be very unwilling to help me even though they did my bowel
routine, turn me, feed me my evening meal. I remember waking up and a staff
member was going to take advantage of me. He was fired and hired again. I
was
alway calling the health department for cockroaches and leaving me dirty. I
was not liked by the owners as you can imagine. I remember going to class and
baby cockroaches were crawling out of my tape recorder.
When did home care start in other states?
Dana
