Reforms planned for group homes for mentally retarded

ATLANTA - A review of 3,196 cases involving mentally retarded individuals living in group residential facilities in Georgia has led the state to make changes in the way they are operated. <br> <br> Tougher standards for approving group homes and closer monitoring of them were among changes outlined in a report released Wednesday by the state Department of Human Resources. <br> <br> ``The major change is the seriousness of the monitoring, not only the initial look, but the follow-up look and the steps we take to correct the problems that are found,&#39;&#39; DHR Commissioner Jim Martin said. <br> <br> The review followed a December report in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that 163 residents had died during the past four years while under state supervision. Thirteen deaths resulted from choking, which often can be prevented; other residents were scalded, dehydrated or malnourished. <br> <br> Another change calls for all death investigations to be completed within 30 days. Previously, they were open-ended. <br> <br> The newspaper found problems including poorly trained staff, inadequate supervision and failure to respond to residents&#39; deteriorating medical conditions. <br> <br> Martin said the new measures will not result in additional costs to the state. Gov. Roy Barnes earlier this year ordered departments to cut expenditures by 5 percent next budget year. <br> <br> ``The approach we took was how to better do what we are doing with no additional costs,&#39;&#39; Martin said. <br> <br> Karl Schwarzkopf, acting director of the Division of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse, said the DHR is now implementing the changes, including a strict application process for anyone providing residential care. <br> <br> ``We will do a lot more checking into the provider&#39;s ability to provide the services and their knowledge about providing the services,&#39;&#39; he said. ``Before, it was pretty much you signed up and got a Medicaid number and it was automatic.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Schwarzkopf said the department is devising rules that will limit the number of mentally retarded residents to four per facility. <br> <br> ``We think if you have no more than four, it will be easier to give the individual attention, and it will be easier to check the level of care,&#39;&#39; he said.