DMH: State workers

John is a young man around 10 years of age. He has trouble being around people and tenses up in crowds. He feels over whelmed at times. He cannot feed himself but needs to eat at regular set times. He will make a noise when he is hungry or thirsty. He is fed by spoon and his food is pureed. He wears diapers that Medicaid does not pay for. He uses two cases of diapers per month. Mom bathes him, brushes his teeth and cares for all his personal needs. He needs to be propped up and has a turning schedule for every two hours to prevent decubitous sores from developing. He will spend hours on the floor. He will try to push himself up and look around. He uses a manual wheelchair but the home needs a ramp leading into the house and a lift for the family van. He has seizures although medication controls most of them. He cannot stay alone and needs 24/7 care. Thunderstorms and bad weather affects him. He will only sleep 2-3 hours each night and rarely takes naps during the day. He has trouble with his bowels and takes over the counter stool softener as recommended by his physician. He needs enemas regularly. He has asthma attacks and uses a breathing machine and air purifier; also oxygen at night. No one is allowed to smoke around him. He sees movement and colors but is legally blind. He has a shunt and has had brain surgeries in the past. His kidneys have been an issue at times................................................................................................................................... There are thousands of these young and older people around the state of Missouri being supported by their families; unseen and voiceless. Many state workers see them and work with them daily, weekly or monthly. Ask the Division of Family Services, The Bureau of Special Health Care Needs, The Department of Senior Services, The Department of Mental Health with its divisions of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Division and the Division of Comprehensive and Psychiatric Services. Don’t ask the upper and middle management of these departments and divisions, ask the people on the front lines; case manager, service coordinators, eligibility workers ….They know what the reality is and see the pain. It is a disgrace, that to make up for the billions of dollars hemorrhaged over the past 5 years from this country we find the neo-cons wrapping themselves in the flag of patriotism, probably wearing one on their lapel, and in turn cutting services, developing dead end waiting lists, restricting Medicaid coverage to the poor, and downsizing and outsourcing service coordination (i.e. DMH/MRDD). Neo-cons love this stuff. They generally hate what they call big government but then they will line their own pockets with its money. The leaders of this country, federal and state, especially the neo-con true believers, should be ashamed of themselves for letting this happen. I remember seeing a story several years ago regarding Mr. Bremer who was the U.S. Presidential Envoy to Iraq starting in 2003 who lost $30 million dollars in cash, no trace anywhere. He had pallets and pallets of cash flown into Iraq on military aircraft. That $30 million dollars alone would have bought truckloads of diapers, paid for needed therapies, assisted with in home personal care, and on and on. Where have all the Billions gone over the past five years? Yeah! Let the leaders in Jefferson City take boxes of diapers, dental and eye care, food supplements, therapies, ramps, van lifts, and cut, cut, cut…….Shame on you leaders!! How dare you call yourself a leader! Where is your honor?