Published Date: 2013-05-21
We were thrilled to finally see the media address the serious situation faced by the profoundly disabled with the closure of the Lanterman Developmental Center (“Challenges for patients as Pomona’s Lanterman center closes,” May 3). The reassurance from officials is ludicrous. How can you take profoundly disabled and disturbed individuals, many with acute behavioral and medical problems, and place them in community care
Many have lived for decades at Lanterman, which provides a secure environment with on-site day programs, schools, acute facilities and a full complement of licensed professional staff at all levels.
The for-profit, private providers with whom the state contracts to operate the community care facilities are woefully ill-equipped to provide the level of care needed.
How can staff with far less experience and pay keep these people alive, let alone safe? How can the contract providers deal with severe medical problems, psychotropic medications, bizarre behavior (often impulsive aggression and self-inflicted abuse), crisis situations and other problems
Monti and Sharon Letrich
Riverside
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