Closing YDC would border on crime against humanity

Closing YDC would border on crime against humanity

I am the medical director at Youngstown Developmental Center. I have held this position since September 2014. I have been in practice for 30 years and have taken care of patients with multiple problems that required extended care facilities.

YDC is the best facility that I have seen. Since I have been medical director, I have been very impressed by the quality of care given to our residents. Our residents are treated like family. All workers involved — from janitorial staff to nursing caregivers, administrators and director of nursing — really care for and even love these residents.

It would be a shame to lose this facility. I do not believe these residents and family members would get better care at another facility. As an example, I had a patient’s mother call me who is 89 years old and cannot care for her 70-year-old son who is a resident at YDC. She said that when they were in Florida, a child is kicked out at the age of 18 and on his own. She is so grateful for YDC and the great care that is given to her son. She was crying on the phone at the loss of the facility and is very distraught with what she will do.

She is 89 and cannot drive a distance to any other facility. On a more personal note, I never attend parties or Christmas parties at the hospital. I did attend the Christmas party at YDC. It brought a tear to my eye to see how these residents enjoyed themselves and the care and love they received. There was one resident, who all he could do was touch his nose for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. His other response was the great big smile on his face. I have never enjoyed a Christmas party so much.

In conclusion, I believe it will be bordering on a crime to close this facility.

Dr. Richard L. Catterlin, Mineral Ridge