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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Advocates for people with mental illnesses are holding a community meeting to address concerns about reports of poor care in assisted living facilities in Lincoln.
The Lincoln Journal Star reports (http://bit.ly/1L4QGil ) that the Mental Health Association of Nebraska has received reports of rooms filled with soiled adult diapers, bedbug infestations and outright neglect.
The association also has received reports of poor nutrition and neglect, and there was an instance when an individual was evicted after having a panic attack after a fire door closed and trapped the individual.
"This population has difficulty advocating for themselves due to lack of resources and family members. However, they are people and nobody deserves this," said Nicole Eisele, the association's marketing director. "We would like people to know these are Medicaid dollars and we are paying for assisted' living."
Kasey Moyer with the Mental Health Association of Nebraska said the meeting is designed to help find solutions and improve care.
The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Union College's Ortner Center. Officials from the state Department of Health and Human Services, Disability Rights Nebraska and law enforcement are expected to attend.
The owners of the assisted living facilities have also been invited to attend the meeting.
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Information from: Lincoln Journal Star, http://www.journalstar.com
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