I'm 76 and I'm Tired

[Obadiah]

That is pretty shocking. But has anyone done something about it since then?

Yes, things are being done. There are still some institutions in operation but they are pushing to have them closed as well, or possibly just enough remaining open to handle the most severe and dangerous cases. Generally the service they provide is not only substandard and isn't good for their clients, but also far more expensive to the taxpayers who have to pay for it. The push now is for home care where the mentally disabled person lives in their own home and has staff that develop individualized programs for each person to help them with the things they can't do on their own and encourage them to do all that they can on their own, including being part of the community they live in rather than just wasting away locked in a mental institution. And since it's a lot cheaper to do this, it's not only better for the mentally disabled person, but it allows more of them to be in a program that helps them rather than being abandoned in the street.

I work for a company called Cascade Christian Services that provides this in home service, and this Seattle news station investigation covers Shawn Fanning, one of the people I actually work with and shows how much better they are once they are away from the institutions. As another example, I work with two women, both of whom would have been dead long ago had they just been locked away in those institutions.

http://www.king5.com/news/local/inv...-an-institution-to-a-home-of-his-own/67101698

 

[Christ_empowered]

I dunno what to do about it. SC just sold off most of the state mental hospital (it was on prime real estate). Even the forensics unit--the not guilty by reason of insanity people--is based on treatment in the community (after stabilizing them on an inpatient basis, of course).

I dunno. Asylums weren't that great, but at least...well, at least there was a place where people who couldn't make a go of things in society because of mental problems could go. Now we have group homes, but those tend to be hit or miss.

 

[Douglas Summers]

http://www.sociology.org/content/vol003.004/thomas.html

Electronic Journal of Sociology (1998)
ISSN: 1198 3655
Ronald Reagan and the Commitment of the Mentally Ill:
Capital, Interest Groups, and the Eclipse of Social Policy

All in all, business interests were served. Families and doctors were appease d. Patients were forgotten. < This was my point.

 

[Douglas Summers]

That is pretty shocking. But has anyone done something about it since then?

There has been a lot of discussion, talk, and long drawn out professional political finger pointing and justification for having ignored the mental patients care, but nothing has been done for the patients. I remember back in the 80's a man and his family were on vacation at some hotel. The young son got up early and went out into the hallway, when the father went out to get him, he found the boys throat cut. A man that had been let out of the mental facilities being closed down that was staying at the hotel was the killer. That was the beginning of the investigation into why he was not institutionalized and out on the street. When they arrested the man, he was an exceptionally physically strong man. His reasoning was that the boy was a danger???

 

[Christ_empowered]

its sad. I say this because I needed to be in a hospital when I was younger, but my people weren't "important enough" for me to be put in the state hospital, so I was just left to deal with a hostile community and go ever crazier. So...even though mental hospitals in general, and state hospitals in particular, can be terrible places, they can also be helpful and rehabilitate people...and also warehouse those whose problems won't go away.

The push towards de-institutionalization pre-dates Reagan...actually, some states were trying various deinstitutionalization schemes before Thorazine even came out...but it seems that Reagan really did a number on the mental health system.

 

[AGustOfWind]

I hope that liberal and progressive readers will appreciate this.


I'm 76 and I'm Tired

This should be required reading for every man, woman
and child in the UK , in the U.S.A, Canada ,
Australia and New Zealand

By Robert A. Hall

I'm 76
Except for one
semester in college when jobs were scarce and a
six-month period when I was between jobs, but
job-hunting every day, I've worked,
hard,since I was 18.
Despite some health challenges, I still put in
50-hour weeks, and haven't called in sick in
seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but
I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I
worked to get where I am. Given the economy,
there's no retirement in sight, and I'm tired.
Very tired.

I'm tiredof being told
that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who
don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being
told the government will take the money I
earned, by force if necessary, and give it to
people too lazy to earn it.

I'm tiredof being told
that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every
day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men
killing their sisters, wives and daughters for
their family "honor"; of Muslims rioting over
some slight offense; of Muslims murdering
Christian and Jews because they aren't
"believers;" of Muslims burning schools for
girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims
to death for "adultery;" of Muslims mutilating
the genitals of little girls; all in the name of
Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari???a law tells them to.

I'm tiredof being told
that, out of "tolerance for other cultures," we
must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund
mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach
hate in America and Canada, while no American
nor Canadian group is allowed to fund a church,
synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to
teach love and tolerance..

I'm tiredof being told I
must lower my living standard to fight global
warming, which no one is allowed to debate.
I'm tiredof being told
That drug addicts have a disease, and I must
help support and treat them, and pay for the
damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a
dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up
their noses while they tried to fight it off?

I'm tiredof hearing
wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians
of both parties talking about innocent mistakes,
stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we
All know they think their only mistake was
getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense
Of entitlement, rich or poor.

I'm real tiredof people who
don't take responsibility for their lives and
actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the
government, or discrimination or big-whatever
for their problems.

Yes, I'm damn tired. But I'm also glad to
be 76.. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have
to see the world these people are making. I'm
just sorry for my granddaughters and grandsons.

Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served
five terms in the Massachusetts State Senate.

Biblical Quotes Supporting the Belief that Jesus Is A Liberal

Peacemaking, not War Making: Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. [Matthew 5:9]
Resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. [Matthew 5:39] I say unto
you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despite-fully
use you, and persecute you; [Matthew 5:44]

The Death Penalty: Thou shalt not kill [Matthew 5:21]

Crime and Punishment: If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to cast a stone at her. [John 8:7] Do not judge,
lest you too be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be
measured to you. [Matthew 7:1 & 2.]

Justice: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. [Matthew 5:6] Blessed
are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy [Matthew 5:7] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses. [Matthew 6:15]

Corporate Greed and the Religion of Wealth: In the temple courts [Jesus] found men selling cattle, sheep and doves and
other sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep
and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. [John 2:14 & 15.] Watch out! Be on
your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. [Luke 12.15.]
Truly, I say unto you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. [Matthew 19:23] You cannot serve both
God and Money. [Matthew 6:24.]

Paying Taxes & Separation of Church & State: Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God
the things that are God's. [Matthew 22:21]

Community: Love your neighbor as yourself. .[Matthew 22:39] So in everything, do to others as you would have them do
to you.[Matthew 7:12.] If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure
in heaven. [Matthew 19:21]

Equality & Social Programs: But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be
blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. [Luke 14:13 &14.]

Public Prayer & Displays of Faith: And when thou pray, thou shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray
standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They
have their reward. But thou, when thou pray, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father
which is in secret… [Matthew 6:6 & 7]

Strict Enforcement of Religious Laws: If any of you has a son or a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not
take hold of it and lift it out? [Matthew 12:11] The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. [Mark 2:27.]

Individuality & Personal Spiritual Experience: Ye are the light of the world. [Matthew 5:14]

 

[jasonc]

Biblical Quotes Supporting the Belief that Jesus Is A Liberal

Peacemaking, not War Making: Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. [Matthew 5:9]
Resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. [Matthew 5:39] I say unto
you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despite-fully
use you, and persecute you; [Matthew 5:44]

The Death Penalty: Thou shalt not kill [Matthew 5:21]

Crime and Punishment: If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to cast a stone at her. [John 8:7] Do not judge,
lest you too be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be
measured to you. [Matthew 7:1 & 2.]

Justice: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. [Matthew 5:6] Blessed
are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy [Matthew 5:7] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses. [Matthew 6:15]

Corporate Greed and the Religion of Wealth: In the temple courts [Jesus] found men selling cattle, sheep and doves and
other sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep
and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. [John 2:14 & 15.] Watch out! Be on
your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. [Luke 12.15.]
Truly, I say unto you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. [Matthew 19:23] You cannot serve both
God and Money. [Matthew 6:24.]

Paying Taxes & Separation of Church & State: Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God
the things that are God's. [Matthew 22:21]

Community: Love your neighbor as yourself. .[Matthew 22:39] So in everything, do to others as you would have them do
to you.[Matthew 7:12.] If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure
in heaven. [Matthew 19:21]

Equality & Social Programs: But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be
blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. [Luke 14:13 &14.]

Public Prayer & Displays of Faith: And when thou pray, thou shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray
standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They
have their reward. But thou, when thou pray, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father
which is in secret… [Matthew 6:6 & 7]

Strict Enforcement of Religious Laws: If any of you has a son or a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not
take hold of it and lift it out? [Matthew 12:11] The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. [Mark 2:27.]

Individuality & Personal Spiritual Experience: Ye are the light of the world. [Matthew 5:14]

Jesus us neither a liberal nor any political affiliate. HE IS God

Would Jesus abort?
Would Jesus marry Gays?
Would Jesus allow consenting adults to do anything they want so long as that aren't harming another?

Would Jesus tolerate Greed,allow the exploition of the poor?

The answer is no.God reigns no and allows us to try to fix the problems and give some guidance in how to do this,but he will not take a political side.

He didn't die for the government but for the lost?

 

[Douglas Summers]

Yes, things are being done. There are still some institutions in operation but they are pushing to have them closed as well, or possibly just enough remaining open to handle the most severe and dangerous cases. Generally the service they provide is not only substandard and isn't good for their clients, but also far more expensive to the taxpayers who have to pay for it. The push now is for home care where the mentally disabled person lives in their own home and has staff that develop individualized programs for each person to help them with the things they can't do on their own and encourage them to do all that they can on their own, including being part of the community they live in rather than just wasting away locked in a mental institution. And since it's a lot cheaper to do this, it's not only better for the mentally disabled person, but it allows more of them to be in a program that helps them rather than being abandoned in the street.

I work for a company called Cascade Christian Services that provides this in home service, and this Seattle news station investigation covers Shawn Fanning, one of the people I actually work with and shows how much better they are once they are away from the institutions. As another example, I work with two women, both of whom would have been dead long ago had they just been locked away in those institutions.

http://www.king5.com/news/local/inv...-an-institution-to-a-home-of-his-own/67101698

That takes a special calling by the Holy Spirit to minister to mentally handicapped people. I notice in Walmart, caretakers of the mentally ill taking them shopping and even to the movies at times. When I lived in an apartment, they had some apartments called "section 8" for the mentally handicapped. I lived in an upstairs apartment, one day as I was leaving I saw this young lady crawling up the stairs with a cloths basket, she had been trying to do her laundry. I helped her up and got her to her apartment. She was in her twenties and very pretty, but she was suffering from MS. Me and my wife kept an eye on her to help her. She absolutely was not able to take care of herself. She would leave piles of paper on the cooking stove, she smoked and would use the cooking stove to light her cigarettes. She had no control over being able to use the bathroom. We helped her until one day I felt that was enough. Her caretaker never visited her, and the Apartment complex just wanted the section 8 money. I had to call for several days to get her sponsor to come and check on her and insisted that she needed assisted living quarters. They finally put her into a group home. But without someone there to intercede, they would have just let her suffer. They did not care and were annoyed that I complained for her safety and assistance. And this is just one of many stories I could tell you. No one seemed to really care about them. It was grievous to my heart. There is a day coming when everyone will have to answer for the things they did, weather good or bad.

 

[reba]

Good and Godly man Douglas Summers

 

[Christ_empowered]

I'm blessed because my people have the time, money, and inclination to take good care of me. With my Bipolar I/Schizophrenia (opinions vary...its psychiatry, not science), its hard to do a whole lot in society. And its sort of...well, darned if you, darned if you don't. Go to a hospital, they might help you...or they might abuse you (happened to me). Stay in the community and you might recover...or you might be so stigmatized that you get driven out of apartments, out of neighborhoods (again, happened to me).

--sigh-- Sometimes, I wish they had the state mental hospitals. Not everybody there was completely out of it. Some of them, from what I've read w/ interviews with people who worked at the one here in SC...some of them just couldn't make a go of life in mainstream society. Some people can't. It happens.

 

[Douglas Summers]

Biblical Quotes Supporting the Belief that Jesus Is A Liberal

The Lord God was not a liberal! He is merciful and gracious (Matt. 5:1-28). The liberal society of man believe in: Same sex marriage, abortion, gross manipulation and deceiving with guile, and without God and against God. The Lord does not believe in separation of Church and state, but the separation of His body with the principles of this age (world) influenced by Satan.
The Kingdom of the Heavens is a theocracy of church and state under God, Amen.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I don't think a Christian Worldview is necessarily liberal, progressive, conservative, etc. Its...well..distinctly otherworldly, at its finest.

 

[Obadiah]

That takes a special calling by the Holy Spirit to minister to mentally handicapped people. I notice in Walmart, caretakers of the mentally ill taking them shopping and even to the movies at times. When I lived in an apartment, they had some apartments called "section 8" for the mentally handicapped. I lived in an upstairs apartment, one day as I was leaving I saw this young lady crawling up the stairs with a cloths basket, she had been trying to do her laundry. I helped her up and got her to her apartment. She was in her twenties and very pretty, but she was suffering from MS. Me and my wife kept an eye on her to help her. She absolutely was not able to take care of herself. She would leave piles of paper on the cooking stove, she smoked and would use the cooking stove to light her cigarettes. She had no control over being able to use the bathroom. We helped her until one day I felt that was enough. Her caretaker never visited her, and the Apartment complex just wanted the section 8 money. I had to call for several days to get her sponsor to come and check on her and insisted that she needed assisted living quarters. They finally put her into a group home. But without someone there to intercede, they would have just let her suffer. They did not care and were annoyed that I complained for her safety and assistance. And this is just one of many stories I could tell you. No one seemed to really care about them. It was grievous to my heart. There is a day coming when everyone will have to answer for the things they did, weather good or bad.

That's great that you helped her. See, it just takes regular people acting with the kind of love Jesus told us to have for each other to resolve these situations.

You did the right thing in reporting this. If she did have an actual caregiver assigned to assist her with these kind of things and that caregiver was ignoring their responsibility this is a serious offense and there is a national hotline number to report these kind of things (800-562-6078) and they take it seriously. The housing authority who grants the section 8 status aren't really the ones who handle poor caregiving situations. They most likely notified the people at this hotline after you complained to them. I work with some people in even worse mental or physical condition than what you described her as, and if I ever allowed one of them to get in the position you described through neglecting my duties I would be immediately fired and reported to the authorities for investigation, and most likely have my license removed as a result of that investigation. In fact, I found out about one of my co-workers abusing one of our clients in a far less serious way than you saw, and I reported him to the hotline and to my supervisor. He was immediately fired and lost his license.

Any industry is going to have examples of neglect and poor service. Professionally caring for the elderly or disabled is no different. People doing exactly what you did is the best policing we have, and I encourage more to do this!

Edit: Almost forgot. You mentioned Walmart and the movies. Depending on the individuals abilities we take them to all kinds of stores like that and to movies, to other types of theater, on boat rides, swimming, walks on the beaches and mountain trails, museums, book stores, libraries, to the gym for workouts, to the Special Olympics as spectators as well as competitors, they might go to dance and art classes. According to their abilities they have jobs and even their own bank accounts which those who are able even manage themselves. I recently taught a 32 year old woman who has never spoken a word in her life to say my name and to nod or shake her head for yes or no. Another long term caregiver that was in the house with me almost fainted the first time she heard this woman call me by name! You name it, whatever things a "normal" person would do in their community we get these people doing as well according to what they are able to do and what they enjoy doing. But in the state institutions (much like the ones Regan closed) they don't get to do much of this at all. They are simply warehoused and have their basic needs tended to by overworked and too often uncaring employees until they die an early death.

 

[Douglas Summers]

Good and Godly man Douglas Summers

You would have done the same thing Reba,.....Christ in us.

 

[Douglas Summers]

I'm blessed because my people have the time, money, and inclination to take good care of me. With my Bipolar I/Schizophrenia (opinions vary...its psychiatry, not science), its hard to do a whole lot in society. And its sort of...well, darned if you, darned if you don't. Go to a hospital, they might help you...or they might abuse you (happened to me). Stay in the community and you might recover...or you might be so stigmatized that you get driven out of apartments, out of neighborhoods (again, happened to me).

--sigh-- Sometimes, I wish they had the state mental hospitals. Not everybody there was completely out of it. Some of them, from what I've read w/ interviews with people who worked at the one here in SC...some of them just couldn't make a go of life in mainstream society. Some people can't. It happens.

True love can overcome many obstetrical. My wife is Bipolar. I could never understand why she could be so sweet one moment and in an instant, she would be angry with me for no reason. Her demeanor would change as quick as turning a light switch on and off. We were married 30 years before our family doctor diagnosed it. We have been married 47 years. If I had it to do over again, I would not change a thing. We love each other dearly. We became as one body. I so hope that we cross over at the same time.

 

[JLB]

I know I'll be odd man out here, but I'm tired of the biased dogma being spread with half truth and largely a narrow point of view.

Fact is, Mr Hall grew up in an era when good paying jobs were abundant, as were decent pensions and you didn't need both parents working full time jobs just to raise a family. Oh yeah, and housing was affordable too.

I know this is going to rub some of you the wrong way, and my intent isn't to argue and I certainly won't berate anyone from having a differing view. But simply put, Mr. Hall needs to get in touch with the current struggles in this era because it isn't 1955 anymore.

Wow!

Did all those things Mr. Hall is tired of happen in the 50's?

Personally I thought he was referring to the current struggles of what's happening now.



JLB

 

[Douglas Summers]

. I recently taught a 32 year old woman who has never spoken a word in her life to say my name and to nod or shake her head for yes or no. Another long term caregiver that was in the house with me almost fainted the first time she heard this woman call me by name!

Every time I have associated with the mentally handicapped, and treated them like a regular person. They always recognized me with a smile and wanted to chat. I believe when a Spirit filled man walks with the sick and handicapped, it is that Spirit that they recognize, and it's comfort and grace . Christ in us.

 

[Runner]

Robert A. Hall is only 70 now and wrote the above blog post when he was 63, but let's not let the facts get in our way. Simplistic, one-dimensional, cartoon-level spiels like this serve no useful purpose except to ratchet-up those who already agree with the sentiments being expressed. A diehard liberal could produce a counterpoint to this in 30 seconds that would be equally cartoonish and equally "true." Those who divide the country into "us" (conservatives or liberals, as the case may be) versus. "them" (liberals or conservative, as the case may be) are on a road to nowhere and not a path that Jesus would endorse. The notion that Christianity equates to political conservative and that the right-wing political agenda is the modern equivalent of the Nicene Creed is one of the absolutely silliest, false and counterproductive notions in the world today, one that is virtually unique to America. I listen to a fair amount of conservative Christian talk radio just to stay in touch with the fringe, and it is absolutely clear that "Christianity" is little more than a code word for foaming-at-the-mouth "patriotism" and worship of the right-wing political agenda; this form of "Christianity" has virtually nothing - truly nothing - in common with Jesus or First Century Christianity.

 

[JLB]

Simplistic, one-dimensional, cartoon-level spiels like this serve no useful purpose except to ratchet-up those who already agree with the sentiments being expressed.

Or, more importantly, those who don't. :biggrin



JLB

 

[Runner]

Every time I have associated with the mentally handicapped, and treated them like a regular person. They always recognized me with a smile and wanted to chat. I believe when a Spirit filled man walks with the sick and handicapped, it is that Spirit that they recognize, and it's comfort and grace . Christ in us.

Sorry, that is just not true. My late first wife and I went into full-time Christian service as 24-hours-a-day, ten-days-per-shift house parents for five mentally handicapped adult women with the same stars in our eyes that you seem to have. We were going to be wonderfully kind and loving, and the mentally handicapped women were going to respond accordingly. We were going to be one big happy Christian household. We had a rude, rude, RUDE awakening. It was the closest to Hell I ever expect to be. I'll spare you the details, but I concluded that do to this job properly requires a near-saint who has genuinely been called by God for this particular service and can withstand conditions that are pretty much the equivalent of warfare.

After this, I served for almost 15 years as the attorney for an agency that obtained court orders for seriously mentally ill adults to be involuntarily committed for treatment. The cases were almost invariably gut-wrenching. Loving mothers, fathers, husbands, brothers and sisters absolutely could not cope with these people. My wife now, an extremely devout Christian, was in charge of inspecting homes for the mentally handicapped in the Soviet Union, and her experiences were exactly the same as mine.

Any notion that the mentally ill are sweeties who recognize and respond to Spirit-filled kindness is Pollyannaish in the extreme and typically held by people who have little experience with these unfortunate folks. Some of them are sweeties and will respond, of course, but this is true of any segment of the population. It is an extremely challenging situation, as challenging to a Christian perspective as the so-called Problem of Evil.