Below is a state-by-state breakdown of nursing homes that are "publicly owned," either by your State, your county or your city. The Olmstead decision held that unnecessary segregation in institutions was discrimination and a violation of the ADA.

Throughout the United States, 65% of the nursing homes are operated by "for profit" entrepreneurs. The "for profit" part of the nursing home industry in many states are big contributors to elected officials.

But what is the excuse for the 638 publicly owned and publicly operated nursing homes? Why have not the publicly owned nursing homes stopped discriminating? They are subject to the Olmstead Supreme Court decision. They should be offering persons the choice of staying in the nursing homes or receiving services in the community.

Your Olmstead plans must particularly address these publicly owned nursing homes.

Things to do:

1. Go to Medicare's website: http://www.medicare.gov/
NHCompare/home.asp Find out exactly where your state's publicly owned nursing homes are located.

2. Visit the elected officials who own and fund the particular public nursing home and ask if they are aware of their Olmstead duty to avoid unnecessary segregation by providing community based services.

3. Ask the elected officials who fund the specific public nursing home (e.g., your city council or county commissioners for local public nursing homes and your state administers for state funded and owned nursing homes) what they are doing to STOP future unnecessary segregation. Close the front door!

4. Find out if your State's Olmstead plan addresses the transition of public funds from these public institutions to the community.

5. Go into these publicly owned nursing homes and ask the residents whether they want to live with appropriate supports in the community. For those residents who want to live in the community, bring the residents to meet the elected public officials who own and fund these institutions. DON'T MOURN. ORGANIZE Steve Gold, The Disability Odyssey continues

Back issues of other Information Bulletins are available online at http://www.stevegoldada.com with a searchable Archive at this site.

Public Nursing Homes by States

AL-15, AR-9, AZ-2,CA-7,CO-13,CT-2,DC-2,DE-2,FL-8, GA-12,HI-1, IA- 8, ID-5, IL-32, IN-5, KS-23,KY-6,LA-6,MA-9,MD-6,ME-4, MI- 37, MN-41, MO-28, MS-13, MT-11,NC-1,ND-3, NE-39, NH-11, NJ-15, NM-2, NY- 44, OH-27,OK-10,OR-4,PA-48,RI-1,SC-10,SD-3, TN-18, TX-14,UT-6,VA-6,VT-1,WA-6,WI-55,WV-3,WY-4, Total 638