A facility was in poor condition. We partnered with the provider to get it fixed up. #AdvocacyMatters
January 26, 2018 / #AdvocacyMatters
In August 2017, Disability Rights Ohio received an anonymous tip that an Adult Care Facility in the Youngstown area was in bad shape, putting its residents - people with mental illness - at risk. DRO's abuse and neglect team visited and found a host of problems: stained and buckling ceiling tiles from old leaks in the roof, peeling wall coverings, broken furniture, and cracked tiles and fixtures in the bathrooms. DRO sent a report to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, but we also reached out to the owner of the facility to see if she would work with us to make the necessary changes. She was, in fact, very receptive to our request, and got to work almost immediately. By the time DRO visited again in mid-December 2017, the facility was greatly improved, allowing the residents to focus on their own well-being.
DRO is happy to partner with willing providers to ensure that our clients are safe and healthy while they're receiving care. Concerned individuals can submit anonymous tips about facilities throughout the state by phone at 800-282-9181 (option 2), by email to intake (at) disabilityrightsohio.org or by mail at 200 Civic Center Drive, Suite 300, Columbus, OH 43215-4234.
Find more information on the Abuse and Neglect page of our Self-Advocacy Resource Center.