As Mike navigated the van into the visitor's parking lot in front of New Horizons, located just outside of the city of Van Nuys, everyone was eager to abandon the vehicle. Despite the attempts from Cap and Roy, Chet had been growing restless for the last twenty minutes and was starting to try everyone's patient.
Well, at least it's good practice for the kids to see how they could cope with an annoying little brother, Roy thought as he met Joanne's eyes when he helped her out of the cramped van. Amazingly enough, they seem almost more immune to his endless chatter than the rest of us.
Smiling up at her husband, Joanne had a feeling what he was thinking. She, on the other hand, was just grateful for the distraction of the activity bags that had been packed. Without them, it would have been a much longer trip.
Looking over the one story brick building, the group of six adults stretched out as they each wondered where to go. There seemed to be no obvious entrance at all to the building and if asked later, everyone was more puzzled by the bizarre layout than anything. Soon, from the right side of the building, two figures emerged.
"Dr. Brackett, what are you doing here?" Roy asked, surprised.
"Well, to be honest, I haven't seen this facility myself and since Joe promised you guys that he'd watch over Johnny today, I thought I'd take the day off, see it for myself. Just so I know for future reference and to aid in the decision-making process," Kel Brackett explained. "I hitched a ride with Dr. Druthers here and figured you wouldn't mind at all."
"No, not in the least," Joanne spoke up. "It'll help to have a familiar face for this I believe."
"Well," Karl asked the group after a moment. "Shall we get started? The director is waiting in the main office for us."
"Lead on," Hank replied, gesturing for the DeSoto's to go ahead of them.
Pressing a buzzer on what they were told was a security door, Chet immediately had a question.
"Why do you need that?" he asked, baffled as they entered into a large room. "I mean, from what I see, you got another couple of doors behind that desk and I'm guessing they lock too. What's with all that?"
"Chet," Hank mumbled under his breath. "Pipe down you twit and let them explain first."
One of the individuals waiting in a circle of chairs stood up with his arm extended. Shaking everyone's hand, he introduced himself.
"My name is Robert Cooper, I run New Horizons and am here at least Monday through Friday during business hours. More if needed, such as if a patient or family member needs me. This gentleman behind the desk is Sam Jackson, he heads security and yes, you are right, we do have a lot of security measures in place here," Robert admitted. "We have cameras throughout our building, monitoring different areas, but we do uphold patient's privacy. On the tour, I'll point out the areas where some of them are. We do this for the safety of the patients, family members who visit, the staff members and anyone who visit, such as yourself.
"We do have locked doors, and there a few reasons behind that. Some of the patients aren't aware of the danger behind going outside alone and so this makes sure that a staff member is with the patient when they do leave," pausing, Robert glanced at the children, unsure if he should speak his next words.
Considering what I heard from the two doctors, I don't think this group needs to hear about the friends or unauthorized family members who tried to help a patient escape or even kidnap them in other, similar places. I just wish people knew that these places are so much better than wasting away in a nursing home or living out in the streets. Ever since President Kennedy had signed the Community Mental Health Act and so many people were moved out of institutions into places like this one and group homes, people think they knew what was best for a patient, which is truly frustrating and at times frightening, thought Robert.
"Anyway, this is one of the head nurses here, Shelly Albert," Robert gently swept his hand, palm up to a middle-age nurse with dark brown hair, before pointing out the second of three women. "This is Mary Summers, she coordinates activities here and finally, this is Joseph Emmers. He is the head of the physical rehabilitation side of things."
Nodding his head at them, the group watched as the three disappeared into the facility.
That activities director looks so young, like she just got of college, Joanne pondered. At least she looks like she would be able to handle the energy level of just about anyone, even a healthy John Gage.
"Now, if you all would please take a seat, I'd like to explain a few things before we begin," Robert asked, sitting after the others had complied. "Any patient you see here, I have to ask you to respect their privacy, meaning please don't stare at them or talk about them once you leave unless it is because you're asked to by one of Johnny's doctors."
"Dad, why can't we?" Jenny cut in. "I thought you said we could ask questions."
"Honey, these are people in here, just like you and me," Roy explained, turning to his daughter. "You can ask mom or I, even Dr. Druthers questions. What Mr. Cooper is saying is that you shouldn't talk about the people who live here to your friends."
"Well, of course not, that'd just be mean," Jenny said in a huff.
Squeezing her outspoken daughter, Joanne just smiled, while the men tried their best not to laugh.
Moving on, Robert forewarned them of some things they may encounter.
"Some patients may not be able to control what they say, so they may say the same thing repeatedly, or ask the same things. At times, we do have a patient that does have a violent outburst, usually it's due to a mental illness when their medications aren't working right. We do have rooms that we will put the patients in until they calm down and are no longer a danger to themselves or others.
"If you hear one of the staff members, who you can identify by their badges," Robert said holding up his own badge. "Telling other patients to get back to their room and all visitors to report to a common area, I will need you to do so. More than likely, if I'm close at hand, I will try to help. Otherwise, our staff here is fairly good at dealing with these things."
Seeing the shocked looks on his family and coworkers faces, Roy knew it was up to him to speak up.
"Do any of the other patients get hurt at all?"
"We have had a couple of small instances," Robert admitted uncomfortably.
"What do you mean by small?" Dr. Brackett asked, folding his hands overs his denim shirt.
"From what the reports have said, mainly bruises and a few cuts," he said, feeling uncomfortable under the doctor's scrutiny.
"Anything other than that?" Kel prodded, unsure if it was the full story.
"Not that I can recall," Robert said.
"Would it be possible to get the incidence reports?"
"Yes of course," Robert said, relieved that the interrogation was done. "Please keep in mind, what we are striving for is to have a place for those patients who don't qualify for a group home because they need more medical help and more medical supervision, yet are far too young and don't need the level of care that a nursing home provides."
"We understand what the goal of New Horizons is," Dr. Druthers assured him. "These people are Johnny's family, so you have to understand that they will naturally be over protective of him."
Nodding, Robert smiled at him.
"I understand and it is always good to have that support for our patients. Now, how about we start the tour? And Sam," he asked. "Would you call the office and have them get the reports ready for them?"
"Will do," Sam replied, reaching the phone as he buzzed the group in.
Over the next hour, the engine crew, Roy, Joanne, Chris, Jenny, Dr. Brackett, along with Dr. Druthers toured the new facility. The first place they saw was what was deemed a common waiting area, for the patients who knew family was coming and were anxious to meet them.
"There really wasn't a good use for the space anyway," Robert confessed. "Now, if we turn right, we reach what we call the gym."
The group walked into what was a huge space, broken down into sections for different types of rehabilitation equipment. Everything from parallel bars to relearn how to walk, to weight machines to mats and tables in order to help individuals recover from injuries. There were quite a number of people there working with the equipment helped along by at least one or more individuals.
"Now this is almost like Ramparts physical therapy department," Kel murmured, somewhat impressed.
Glad that the tour seemed to be going so well so far, Robert led the group back down the hallway and then took a left.
"Here we have a large common area that also doubles as our dining area," he said, pointing out the TV area with couches. "About once a month, we have a movie night and every week, we have card games or Bingo, depending on what the activity director has scheduled for that night. And of course, if the residents would like, they can either watch TV or play cards together during their scheduled down time. Meals are prepared three times a day in our kitchen and served at the same time, seven days a week."
"What about snacks?" Chet asked.
"Yea, if anyone here is like Johnny, they need to eat a lot," Marco added.
"We have snacks between each meal that we set out by the nurse's station over there," Robert said, pointing out the small desk where a nurse sat between the common areas and dining area.
"So are the snacks monitored then?" Mike asked.
"Well, yes," Robert fumbled with his words. "Some of the patients are on a strict diet or calorie intact, so we have to make sure they stick to it."
Nodding, Mike remained silent while Chet and Marco tried to express their disgust.
"You twits, hush up," Hank reminded them. "Think before you speak."
Throwing up his hands, he mumbled, "Why can't I ever not be in charge!"
"Sorry Cap," Roy smiled. "You can take the fireman out of the fire station, but…"
"You can't take the fireman out of the man," the engine crew and Joanne finished.
At the looks the others gave her, she said, "What! I've been around you guys long enough to know better when I'm fighting a losing battle and if one thing is a losing battle, it's trying to get you guys to stop doing your job or acting like you do at the station OFF the job.
"Don't worry," she sweetly said with a smirk. "People still love ya."
"Or they know to run," Chris said laughing.
Rolling his eyes, Roy gave up, knowing he was beat.
"Why don't we go on, cause I somehow get the feeling I might be in trouble," Roy suggested.
Taking him at his word, Robert showed them a room near the back of the building that overlooked a grassy area.
"Here we hold arts and crafts in the afternoon. Since it's almost noon, which is our lunch time, our residents will be in either be in their rooms now or downstairs already. We would show you what the rooms are like, but if the patients are in there, we can't."
"I was told that you might be able to have us meet with someone who suffered a brain injury," Doctor Brackett injected.
"Ah, yes, let me go and see about that," Robert voiced, before he headed to the wide nurses desk that spanned half the hallway.
"Dad, why is this guy tied down like this?" Chris asked with fear in his voice.
Walking down the hallway a bit, followed by the rest of the group, Roy saw what Chris was seeing. Inside a small, completely white and almost windowless room was a bed that appeared to bed bolted in the middle of the floor. With what appeared to be hardly any mattress at all between the man and the box frame, Roy wondered if the only reason for the mattress was so that the wrist, ankle, chest and leg straps would hold an individual down better.
By the looks of it however, he wouldn't be able to do much, even if he could move, Roy thought sadly as he peered through the one small window the room held. God, I hope whatever medications they have him on have made him unaware of what's taking place. I couldn't imagine the feeling of being locked inside such a room.
"What are you people doing?" a harsh voice caused everyone to jump.
"Umm, Chris was worried about this man and I didn't know what he was talking about, so I uhh, went to see," Roy hesitantly explained, startled by the harsh look on Robert's face.
Nodding sharply, Robert said, "Be that as it may, I must remind you not to stare. And as for your request to speak with the individual, it's not possible at this time. Also, an incident has come up that I have to attend to, so if there are no further questions, I'll show you out."
Everyone felt that it was more of a demand than a question at that point and even the doctors didn't bother complaining. Once outside, the group met by the VW van and breathed a sigh of relief.
"I have to admit, although I found some things better than I expected, there are other things I found troubling," Dr. Brackett told the group. "At least I have the reports for when other patients were injured."
"Doctors, please don't make Johnny go there, it's scary and icky and not a good place at all," Jenny said on the verge of tears and sounding younger than she was.
"Why do you say that Jenny?" Dr. Druthers asked, looking around at the other group.
"Those people living there aren't happy. They look like the robots Chris watches on TV and the nurses don't smile."
"Yea, I mean, the smell was bad enough, docs, but Jenny is right," Marco agreed. "There is just something odd about it. I'm not sure what it is, maybe it's because I haven't been to these types of places before, but…"
Roy sighed and spoke up, "Unfortunately, Johnny and I have had runs to institutions and compared to them, this isn't that bad of a place. Not somewhere I'd want to send anyone as it doesn't seem that much better, but the sad fact is, it is better. At least they try to help people and get them involved in activities there. It's not as good as a group home. I just couldn't imagine Johnny being here."
"Well, how about I give you guys some research on brain injuries that you can look over and I'll see everyone on Monday," Karl Druthers suggested. "It'll give everyone a chance to read more about what could happen, as well as give the other doctors involved in Johnny's case a chance to talk with me about everything we've discussed so far. Maybe by Monday, I'll have more of an idea of where things might be headed.
"No promises," he said as the two kids began to squeal and smiles began to break out. "I just think that it would be a good time to reassess things. A lot would still depend on how Johnny is after he wakes up."
"Which," Dr. Brackett told the eager group. "We are hoping to start the process of doing so either later tonight so he might be awake tomorrow. Now, I was told that four of you have shift tomorrow and it's an hour's drive back, so I'd suggest it might be best to get going."
"Yeah, we should find that rest stop we passed not too long before getting off the exit Cap," Mike said. "We can eat lunch."
"And I can call Irene," Hank said. "Alright, everyone, move out!"
On that playful command, the kids piled into far back once again with Chet and Marco just ahead of them. Roy and Joanne got the easier seats this time since they swore they needed some adult time.
Tapping on the window, Kel motioned Hank to roll down his window.
"Do you think you could stop by Sunday sometime after shift? I know that is asking a lot, but it might help us doctors out," Doctor Brackett asked.
"Should be okay. I'll ask Irene, but knowing her, she'll make me," he said. "I'll give you a call sometime tomorrow."
"Thanks, Hank," Kel said as he let the group drive away.
"I know you said that group was tight Kel, but you never did tell me just how special they were," Karl said looking at the other doctor as they headed to his car.
Shrugging, Brackett just slid into his seat.
"I honestly am not sure what made that group click. But I can tell you, I have never seen a tighter crew than that bunch."
Nodding thoughtfully, Doctor Druthers started the engine of his 1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass before exiting New Horizon's parking lot.
AN:
On October 31, 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed into law the Community Mental Health Act, also known as the Mental Retardation and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act of 1963. It's goal was to move patients out of institutions and provide them with more community based mental health help.