REALITY: CURRENT COST CARE COMMUNITY-AT-LARGE SCENARIO

April 8, 2016: Response by Cheryl Felak to Frame invitation for Viewer Comment Story

Hi Susannah,

I realize that I have sent you several letters in the past few days.  Please, if you have any questions about any of the information I would be more than happy to answer them.

One last issue that I would like to pass along for the sake of transparency and that is concerning the cost of care.  As you may recall, my son has just recently moved out of Fircrest into a supported living home.  The information on the cost of his care is just starting to come in an I am not surprised at all.  I knew that it would be expensive for his care in the community  and I am right.  But, then again, the care is better and of a higher quality.

Thomas lives in a supported living home.  The agency receives $418.15 a day for his care.  The nurse delegator receives  $26.58 per day.  These two expenses come to $13.786.65 per month or $165,439 per year.  On top of this, my son needs to pay his own rent from his Social Security ( a rent that is subsidized by HUD), buy his own food (but he will receive food stamps).  He will utilize his medical and mental health care providers in the community – billed to our insurance and Apple Health and his medications and incontinent supplies will also be paid for by Apple Health.   Adding all these costs up his annual cost of care in the community will be greater than that of the cost of care in the RHC.

Interesting to note is that the Shoreline Police have already been called to his home due to being hit by another resident.  There was no fault but only caused by the excitement of two adult sized men who have the emotional maturity of 2 year olds and often their communication involves swinging of the arms or hitting.  My son was hit in the head and had a bruise on his ear.  It was not a serious injury at all and there was  no blame but it is the law that the police are notified and a report is filed.  In all honestly this was much less of an issue than some of the injuries he had while at the RHC but I am not aware if the police need to be notified of all injuries for client-to-client “assaults”.  At any rate, this does show the increased cost to the community when other agencies need to respond and support these folks.

I am writing this to you so that you are aware that it is NOT LESS expensive for those with high support needs to live in the community.  The care is better, the health care meets standards, the providers work with the guardians and include them in correspondence and collaborate  - to me that is worth the extra cost of care.  

We need to be honest about what the real story is.  If the RHCs closed and others (many with higher support needs than my son) moved to the community there would be a huge cost increase.  To report otherwise is misleading and negligent.

Thank you again for the work you did on the series.

Cheryl
Cheryl Felak, RN, BSN