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Officials give Rosewood director 8 weeks to fix facility disrepair
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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Maryland lawmakers Tuesday toured the chronically troubled Rosewood Center for the developmentally disabled, calling the grounds “in obvious disrepair” and giving its new director eight weeks to make significant improvements.
The tour and briefing came less than two weeks after another report of problems at the 168-bed, state-owned facility in Owings Mills, prompting a renewed ban on admissions.
After returning from the tour, which was closed to the public, members of the Senate and House’s subcommittees on health and human resources said the entire 300-acre campus needs major maintenance. They said some buildings are asbestos-laden and dilapidated.
“It’s obvious to me that it’s in disrepair,” said Mary-Dulany James, chair of the House subcommittee. “I didn’t need to see every nook and cranny to know that.”
Maryland Health Secretary John Colmers has said he does not intend to close the facility any time soon. But lawmakers questioned the center’s director since May, Robert Day, about the impact of closing or at least consolidating and selling excess property.
Day said Rosewood’s problems are not financial, but attributed to staffing and mixing developmentally disabled residents with residents referred there by court order, or forensic patients.
He said he was not surprised by a 160-page state report earlier this month, which indicated rat droppings, sewage leaks and razor blades in the center’s lawn.
“I agree, it’s completely unacceptable,” Day said. “The taxpayers spend roughly $200,000 per person per year here. I walk around and wonder if they’re having a $200,000 life.”
Day said he has submitted a correctional plan and brought in psychologists and behavioral specialists. The facility is preparing individual plans for each resident, which must be submitted to lawmakers by Dec. 31.
He said additional improvements could be made within the next six to eight weeks. Lawmakers said they want to hear back from him then.
jmalarkey@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
11:19 AM MST on Sun., Aug. 17, 2008 re: "State closing Rosewood"
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6:08 PM MST on Sun., Apr. 6, 2008
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8:38 PM MST on Wed., Jan. 16, 2008
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8:32 PM MST on Wed., Jan. 16, 2008
re: "Disability activists demand officials shut down Rosewood"
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5:50 PM MST on Wed., Jan. 16, 2008
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11:32 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 16, 2008
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10:28 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 16, 2008
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6:09 PM MST on Sun., Oct. 14, 2007
re: "Disability activists demand officials shut down Rosewood"
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5:43 PM MST on Sun., Oct. 14, 2007
re: "Disability activists demand officials shut down Rosewood"
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Beverly said:
For year these State run and operated Institutions have been plagued with history of abuse and neglect. Years ago Fores Haven in Laurel, Maryland was closed due to such allegations of abuse and neglect. Most stations are trying to get people out of Institutions and place them in smaller groups in the community. People can live normal and productive lives in the community. Maybe you should contact the Mayors Office and ask for a meeting with him so that he can address the concerns that you and your family have regarding the closing of Rosewood.
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Sharon Diane True said:
My brother has been a resident of Rosewood since 1996. He loves it there and gets along well with all staffers. I can go there at anytime, they never know when to expect me and I have never seen anything out of the way or hear any complaints from my brother whom is well aware of what is going on around him. The governor never met with my family to imform of of the closing of Rosewood. I recently wrote a letter to him and have not had a reply. No repl? Probably because he doesn't want to hear what we have to say. He will not convince us that they can close Rosewood and place these patients in the neighborhood for less than it takes to downsize Rosewood on it's own property. These patients now have more staff members to look out for them whereas in a group home there would be only one or two attendants and in no way have the care they have now. We are furious that this closure is going to happen. THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T CARE ABOUT OUR FAMILY MEMBERS.
1 agree | 1 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
O'Malley's decision was the best answer!
35 agree | 34 disagree
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Ashby said:
That is not worthy of a comment!
23 agree | 27 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Some say love is a new rosewood residence, with safegaurds, maybe. We will have to monitor this situation.
36 agree | 38 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Rosewood was never meant to house criminals (forensic patients) which began during the Glendenning administration. Rosewood was meant for children who were severely and mentally afflicted with developmental disabilities and because of those severe disabilities were expected to live out their normal life span in the protective safe atmosphere of Rosewood. O'Malley wants the Rosewood campus for its very valuable tax base. What a selfish and ruthless governor he is. O'Malley is not a man--he is a demon. What on earth is going to happen to those poor people? There is no place for those severely disabled people to go. My heart goes out to them and their families. This is a despicable and hateful act by O'Malley.
36 agree | 38 disagree
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plaid said:
" The center, which dates to 1888 and once housed 3,700 residents, is on a 300-acre parcel of what is considered commercially attractive land. Some residents Tuesday said they fear the land will be sold to developers." And this is the meat of O'Malley's decision: A payback to the robber barons who opened their wallets and put him in office. This governor is the most corrupt we've had in years! I know something about the population at Rosewood, and what those folks need is stability - something they will find hard to get in a community-based setting. I implore everyone to write their legislators to stop this order.
39 agree | 39 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
No one should want to be called activist, now a days, it is a dirty word in my vocabulary due to the ignorant unjust uproars. What happen to good old due gooders for good causes?
40 agree | 47 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Where were these activists when the state appointed 4 interim temporary facility directors for Rosewood? I haven't seen any of these activists on Rosewood campus. Are they taking the lead from the media, which presents a slanted view to sell copy? The deficiencies at Rosewood are not representative of the total care provided at Rosewood. For example, would activists respond differently if they knew that only a single safety razor was found near a dumpster, versus the overhyped description of "razor blades scattered around residences." Was anyone actually harmed by this Bic razor? (nope). The good work being done at Rosewood by dedicated and skilled employees doesn't sell papers. Hey activists, tell us how wonderful the group home system works in Maryland? By all means, let's release all residents from Rosewood, even if many of them are felons. Who will accept them in their neighborhoods? Please, a balanced view is in order.
42 agree | 38 disagree
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