The Dismantling of Sonoma Developmental Center

The following message from PHA President Kathleen Miller is also included in the latest edition of The Eldridge Gazette. You can access a copy of the Sept/Oct 2012 Gazette by visiting the Resources page of this blog and downloading a copy (pdf). Back copies of The Eldridge Gazette are also available.

It has been over ten years since my son first became a resident of Sonoma Developmental Center. In fact it was over ten years ago that I first became a social worker for the center. While ten years is a considerable length of time there are those of you who have been involved with the center for much longer.  In those ten years I have seen many changes come to Sonoma Developmental Center. I am certain that you all have seen them as well. I want to talk here about those changes and what they mean for those who live there.

THE POPULATION - We are all aware that the population has and continues to shrink. Some of this is due to the aging of the residents. Sadly deaths do occur, particularly among the medically fragile many of whom have lived well beyond their life expectancies.

However, it is also due to policies that put pressure on regional centers to place residents into board and care homes outside the center. Recently the Department of Developmental Services sponsored a trailer bill that prevents any admissions to Sonoma Developmental Center for any reason! Pressure to place outside the center continues. I get calls from families all the time, some with family living inside Sonoma who are being pressured to place their family member in a board and care and some outside Sonoma where the placement is not working seeking a way into Sonoma. I am forced to let them know that there is no way in.

UNIT CLOSURES – The number of unit staff is based on the number of residents so as the population declines it becomes necessary to close units in order to staff those units remaining. Since transfer trauma is real, closures do mean an increased risk to residents. Most residents are able to adapt, but for an unlucky few this has not been the case. For fragile Sonoma residents, moving to a new environment can mean escalating behaviors, increased medical issues, and in a few rare but very real cases, death.

PROGRAMS – I have seen programs shrink or be eliminated altogether. When the Sunrise worksite in the community was shut down families received assurances that there would be efforts to take the Sonoma residents who worked there out into the community for regular outings. This could make up for the closure of the community worksite where trips to restaurants, to the bank to cash their earnings and spend them, and training on how to access public transportation, were part of the daily fare.

But worksite trips to the community have not taken place as promised.  In truth classes and groups have been cut and programs and positions have been eliminated. Opportunities that were available for former residents to make camping trips or outings to camp via, have summer swim parties, work in the community, have water therapy, participate in the MOVE program and on and on no longer happen. As the programs are eliminated the world of Sonoma’s residents shrinks along with them.

STAFFING – We have only to visit our family members on the weekend to be aware of staffing shortages. If we come at shift change we are likely to interrupt staff calling around to see if anyone wants to take the next shift so they won’t be held over and miss… We may be seeing new staff who have floated from another unit and are unfamiliar with and have no relationship with our family member. We may be told the community outing did not go forward because there was not enough staff to make it happen. We are not usually told if the minimums on your family members unit have decreased meaning there is one less staff working with the same number of residents. 

Staffing issues at Sonoma have become a chronic issue. I am so delighted that at last we are hiring some new staff. I hope it is enough to restore some of the former vitality to the units.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW – I am a broken record in saying that

1. You should know what your family member/conservatee does every day. If you know their program you will also know when a change occurs. Remember you are an important member of the team.
2. You should also know that policy states that you need to be informed of any change in service and that if you are not happy about the change you can file for a fair hearing.
3. You should know that applying for a fair hearing, while not always a solution, is the only and best way for you to stand up for your conservatee/family member if you disagree with a change, and you should know that the process is simple. You also need to know that PHA stands ready to help if you decide to take that step.
4. Often you will do better for your family member if you work in cooperation with the team. Remember that most staff want to do what is best for residents and may be willing to work with you in finding a way around program cuts.

All this adds up to long-standing policies and practices that have taken a toll on the care that our loved ones receive at Sonoma. Make no mistake however, the medical team continues to be top notch, the large majority of staff treat the residents with care and respect, and each resident does receive some daily programing. The team approach that has been the backbone of Sonoma still exists and the oversight is still unmatched. These are some of the reasons that families remain committed to having their family members remain at Sonoma. However, the changes cannot be ignored either. Your continued involvement is key to your loved one receiving the services needed to sustain him or her with a positive quality of life!

Kathleen Miller, PHA President
kjmillerkoch [at] yahoo [dot] com