The Irving Glavin Regional Center is the newest of the developmental centers in Massachusetts, and has specialized in helping people with psychiatric complications.
Because the Glavin Center was built during the era of change, most of the residents have previously been in the "community" residential system, and had problems. In fact, despite careful efforts, the last two discharged residents have required more expensive supports in the community than the average per-resident cost at Glavin, and at least one previously discharged patient had such serious difficulties she was eventually admitted to the Hogan Center.
.Thus it is clear to anyone who examines the facts, that there is no cost argument for closing Glavin. In fact, it could be run even more efficiently by filling seven or eight empty beds, and there are more families than that who have requested Glavin placements and have been refused by DMR/DDS.
Recently retired Glavin director Dr. Alfred Bacotti has publicly defended the facility in meetings and a newspaper op-ed: "There is not likely to be any savings for the commonwealth from closing Glavin. Prior to coming into Glavin, it cost more to provide the necessary supports in a community.
It is also argued that closing Glavin would promote an improved quality of life because of the involvement in a community-based lifestyle. People living at Glavin are connected with their community. They go to work, attend church and volunteer at food banks."
Most of the links below are to news stories about the determination of Glavin residents and their families to stop the shutdowns, and support they have among local officials and the leading regional newspaper.
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