HB 984 - Letter

Dear Senator Unterman,

As a parent with 2 children with significant developmental disabilities, I request that HB 984, a bill that would establish a "transitional" nursing facility for medically fragile children, be defeated by the Senate. My understanding of the bill is that medically fragile children will be discharged from the hospital to these facilities rather than to their own homes and families with the necessary medical supports. I believe that an attractive facility and well-intentioned staff can not take the place of being at home with the individuals loving family. All families need is services that help them help their loved ones in the warm and secure environment of home.

I understand that not all families are willing to take on the responsibility of taking care of their own, but would venture to say that most families feel they are more capable than any institution with the right supports in place.

This may be far-fetched, but my concern is that the word "transitional" at some convenient point in time becomes "permanent". This would be a step back to a past that allowed people (families) the opportunity to walk away from their responsibility of caring for their loved ones because of the convenience of the institution. Let's keep the warehousing of human beings (real people) a thing of the past.

I would never consider, even with all the hardships and struggles associated with raising children with significant disabilities, placing my children in any type of "transitional" nursing facility. The government will make it too easy for those who do not think like me to lose hope and give up on their loved ones before they ever had the chance to act and behave like a family. The government will make it too easy for families to walk away from their responsibility.

I believe HB 984 will be the first step in re-establishing institutions that hurt more than helped society as a whole. I urge the Georgia legislature to put the resources into home based supports and services. The supports and services received by my family has helped all of us better understand our purpose in life, as well as gaining an appreciation of the beauty and struggle of the human spirit.