N.J. wrongly forces disabled people into nursing homes, scathing report says

At least 2,000 people with developmental disabilities in New Jersey are housed in nursing homes “contrary to their wishes” and in violation of their constitutional rights because the state does not properly evaluate their needs or give them the option of living more independently in a group home, a new report has found.

The shortage of community housing is another factor in the stubbornly high number of disabled people in nursing homes, and thea decade ago exacerbated this shortage. Gov. Chris Christie’s administration closed the state-run North Jersey Developmental Center in Totowa and the Woodbridge Developmental Center in Woodbridge in response to a lawsuit Disability Rights New Jersey filed to force the state to reduce the number of disabled people it institutionalized and to provide more community housing.

And for those who choose to live in nursing homes, the report said, they are often denied the specialized services they are entitled to that would make their lives more comfortable and more meaningful. “Disability Rights NJ saw the importance of having an already existing supply of housing available for nursing home transitions through our investigation at Woodlands. Nearly all residents were transferred to other nursing homes rather than home and community based settings, simply because there were no choices in the community,” according to the report.

Human Services spokeswoman Eva Loyaza-McBride said the department “welcomes Disability Rights New Jersey’s advocacy, appreciate their work in serving as a resource for individuals and families, and are reviewing this report.” But some improvements efforts are underway, she said. Orlowski credited the department for being “100% cooperative with this report” and the findings “we brought to their attention. We need the input of people with disabilities, families — everyone’s voice to be part of solving this problem.”

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