Advocates rally against corporation that has failed to keep institution residents safe

Last week, a coalition of advocate groups protested at the main offices of Alden Village Nursing Home.  Many residents, including many children, have died at Alden nursing homes.  In addition, Alden has failed to pay fines issued as a result of the deaths.

Here is coverage of the protest in the Chicago Tribune.

Here is release issued by the group:

“CHILDREN DYING IN NURSING FACILITY AT THE HANDS OF POWER AND POLITICS”

Disability Rights Activists Respond by Demanding Fines Be Paid Immediately

Chicago, IL – At 11am on Friday, November 19, at 4200 West Peterson, disability rights activists are responding to numerous deaths of children who resided in Alden Village North, a “home” for children with severe disabilities, by protesting at the main office of Floyd Schlossberg, the president of Alden Management Services.

Access Living’s Power to the People Coalition, Chicago ADAPT, Jane Addams Senior Caucus, The Community Renewal Society and other activists are meeting at the main Alden office to bring to light the seven deaths of children since 2008 due to neglect and poor staffing at the facility and ultimately, to force Schlossberg to pay for these deaths and for the deaths of other residents of Alden institutions.  To date, he has only paid $20,000 of the $190,000 fine.  While Schlossberg has failed to pay the fines, he has made more than $200,000 in contributions to politicians in Illinois and around the country in the last 2 election cycles

In addition to holding Schlossberg and Alden accountable for the deaths at Alden, advocates hope to raise awareness around the need for more community-based services for children with disabilities.

Adam Ballard, the Youth Leadership Coordinator at Access Living states, “Apparently it’s not enough that he has made a fortune warehousing people who could and should be served in their own homes and communities. Now, he chooses to disrespect the memories and families of those lives lost by implying that he should not be held accountable in any way for their deaths. The disability community and our allies are here today to remind him that he is responsible, and to demand that these fines be paid in full.”