What has happened to Glenwood residents after it closed? Some thrive. Others struggle.

The Glenwood Resource Center, a state-run facility for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Iowa, has been at the center of controversy for years. The facility's closure was announced in April 2022, and as of the end of June 2024, all residents have been relocated to various community-based settings. This transition has been fraught with challenges, as some residents have thrived in their new environments, while others continue to struggle.

A Facility Marred by Controversy

The Glenwood Resource Center was initially designed to provide care and support to individuals with severe disabilities. However, over the years, it has faced numerous allegations of violating residents' rights and providing inadequate care. In 2019, a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation found that the center was likely violating residents' constitutional rights by subjecting them to harmful experiments without their consent, including research on sexual arousal.

A subsequent DOJ investigation in 2022 concluded that the state was providing inadequate care to disabled Iowans by keeping too many of them in institutions. The facility also saw a spike in deaths in recent years, which further highlighted the need for a change in approach to caring for these individuals.

The Relocation Process

When the closure was announced, there were about 152 residents at the facility. By the end of June 2024, all residents had been transferred to various community-based settings. Here are the details of where each group of residents was relocated:

• Woodward Resource Center: 26 residents were moved to this state-run facility for severely disabled Iowans.
• Home and Community-Based Services: 83 residents were transferred into home and community-based services, which include group homes, host homes, and other community settings.
• Immediate Care Facilities: 8 residents were moved to immediate care facilities, which provide urgent medical aid.
• Nursing Homes: 6 residents were relocated to nursing homes for ongoing medical care.
• Hospice Care: 7 residents were transferred to hospice care, aiming to provide comfort and support to those nearing the end of life.

Challenges Faced by Residents

The transition has not been without its challenges. Some residents have struggled to adapt to their new environments. For example, Dennette “DJ” Johnson, who has schizoaffective disorder, has moved at least a half-dozen times in the years since she left Glenwood. DJ and many others face the daunting task of adjusting to new homes, caregivers, and routines.

DJ’s story highlights the difficulties many residents face:

DJ Johnson, who has schizoaffective disorder, has moved at least a half-dozen times in the years since she left Glenwood. She recalls the constant changes in environment and caregivers, which have left her feeling disoriented and anxious.

Support Systems in Place

Despite these challenges, the state of Iowa has been actively working to ensure a smooth transition for all residents. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has invested more than $250 million in increasing home-based and community-based services for Iowans. This investment includes adding more community providers and support systems to help residents adjust.

Kelly Garcia, the director of Iowa HHS, emphasized the importance of these investments:

We've added to the number of community providers that operate in the state, and really made an effort to ensure that we're supporting them in those activities. This work is hard. There are challenging behaviors, and challenging circumstances that come with serving people with disabilities.

Monitoring and Compliance

The state remains under the supervision of the Department of Justice following the investigations. The DOJ continues to monitor the situation at Glenwood through court-appointed monitors. A report released last fall found that Iowa was still missing some markers for adequate clinical and medical care of Glenwood residents, largely due to staff failing to coordinate services in a timely manner.

Garcia highlighted the lessons learned from Glenwood:

Translating what we have learned from Glenwood now to broader systems, we've really learned a tremendous amount about how to put the right systems in place so that that failure to communicate doesn't occur.

Outcomes and Future Directions

As of now, about 14 Glenwood residents who transitioned out of the facility have died within a year after moving. Causes of death included cancer, respiratory conditions, cardiac arrest, and cardiac conditions. Five residents died in hospice care directly from Glenwood, while six died in hospice care after transitioning into community care. Three residents died in community care without going into hospice.

Despite these tragic outcomes, the state aims to continue improving its care systems. By investing in community-based services and supporting providers, Iowa hopes to create more inclusive and effective care environments for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Conclusion

The closure of the Glenwood Resource Center marks a significant shift in how Iowa cares for residents with severe disabilities. While some residents have thrived in their new environments, others continue to struggle. The state's efforts to invest in home-based and community-based services and to support providers are crucial steps towards creating more inclusive and effective care systems. As Iowa looks towards the future, it is clear that a collaborative approach between government agencies, healthcare providers, and community organizations will be essential in ensuring the well-being of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

References

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?vdaGOCjlf9r8 - Former resident responds to Glenwood Resource Center closing
• https://www.radioiowa.com/2024/06/19/all-residents-transferred-out-of-state-run-glenwood-resource-center/ - All residents transferred out of state-run Glenwood Resource Center
• https://www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2024-06-18/top-dhhs-official-said-state-is-on-track-to-close-glenwood-by-the-end-of-june-2024 - Top DHHS official says state is on track to close Glenwood by the end of the month
• https://www.kjan.com/index.php/2024/06/all-residents-have-been-transferred-from-soon-to-close-glenwood-resource-center/ - All residents have been transferred from soon-to-close Glenwood ...
• https://apnews.com/article/closing-iowa-facility-disabilities-act-eb5066881adb48a7c59e86433b2c41ef - Iowa facility that mistreated residents with intellectual disabilities ...