This highly informative series of articles by investigative reporter Joseph Shapiro, for National Public Radio, exposes many of the realities of homecare in our nation.

Homecare vs Insitutional Care; Civil Rights and the Olmstead Decision
Investigative Series by Joseph Shapiro, National Public Radio

A New Nursing Home Population: The Young
Joseph Shapiro, NPR, Dec. 9, 2010
 ”…Young people ages 31 to 64 now make up 14 percent of the nursing home population, an analysis of federal data from the Department of Health and Human Services by NPR’s Investigative Unit found. That’s up from 10 percent just 10 years ago…”  Listen to story on young people in nursing homes, also read full detail and see photos, research links. 

Justice Increases Efforts to Enforce Olmstead Ruling
Joseph Shapiro, NPR, December 3, 2010
 ”…Crider, a seventh-grader, died in 2006 at Georgia Regional Hospital in Atlanta, a state hospital for people with mental illness…’This was an absolutely tragic and preventable death,” said Perez. “She didn’t need to be in that institution. She could have thrived as an outpatient…”  Read story on the struggle to enforce Olmstead rights also see photos and research links. 

A New Civil Right Looks For Stronger Enforcement
Joseph Shapiro, NPR, December 3, 2010
“An NPR investigation has found problems with federal enforcement since the ruling in 1999. Data obtained from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its Office for Civil Rights, via a Freedom of Information Act request, showed a flurry of filings made immediately after the initial court decision.”  Listen to story about Olmstead rights also read full detail and see photos, research links.

Care At Home: A New Civil Right
Joseph Shapiro, NPR, December 2, 2010
“…There’s a growing body of law and federal policy that states when the government pays for someone’s care in a nursing home, that person should have the choice to get his care at home. That it’s a civil rights issue..”. Listen to story on homecare & civil rights, also read full detail and see photos, research links. 

 Home Care Might Be Cheaper, But States Still Fear It
Joseph Shapiro, NPR, December 2, 2010
 ”…Advocates for what’s called ‘home- and community-based care’ — HCBS — say it almost always costs less to care for someone in his own home instead of in an institution…”  Listen to story on Home vx Institutional Care, also read full detail and see photos, additional research links. 

Families Fight to Care for Disabled Kids at Home
Joseph Shapiro, NPR, November 8, 2010
“…Olivia Welter is 20 years old and gets all this life-saving medical care through a program provided by Illinois’ Medicaid program. But it’s a program for children. And when Olivia Welter turns 21, at the stroke of midnight on Nov. 9, she is no longer eligible for that care…”  Listen to story on the rights of parents to care for their disabled children, also read full detail and see photos, research links.