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Broken Care, Broken Lives

Grace W. Dow

CW: Abuse, Neglect, Rape & Death

New Hampshire is the latest state that is part of a disturbing national pattern: State agencies and organizations charged with protecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are repeatedly failing residents, putting them at risk of abuse, neglect, and even death.

In May of this year, New Jersey’s disability ombudsman released a scathing 79-page report exposing widespread neglect and abuse within the state’s group homes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The report paints a bleak and deeply troubling picture of a system that, despite nearly $3 billion in annual spending, is failing some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.

But New Jersey and New Hampshire are not  alone. Across the United States, similar reports of neglect and abuse have surfaced, revealing a national crisis in oversight and accountability in group homes.

An investigation by the Boston Globe in 2023 revealed systemic abuse in state-funded group homes in Massachusetts. They documented staff hitting, restraining, and verbally abusing residents. The state’s Disabled Persons Protection Commission received more than 10,000 allegations of abuse in just one year, while thousands of those went uninvestigated or unresolved for months.

An audit conducted by the state in 2022 revealed inspectors in Iowa frequently failed to follow up on serious complaints. One tragic incident occurred with the death of a 30-year-old resident of the former Glenwood Resource Center who died in February 2022 from acute dehydration. His fluid intake was not monitored. 

Arizona came under national scrutiny in 2019 after a woman in one such long-term care facility gave birth, revealing she had been sexually assaulted while in a vegetative state. That case exposed shocking lapses in security and a lack of monitoring that sparked outrage and calls for reform.

These examples, along with the tragedies in New Hampshire and the scathing report from New Jersey, paint a picture of a national crisis in disability care. They depict that the failures are not confined to one state or one type of facility but are systemic, cutting across geography and funding levels. While billions of dollars are spent annually, mechanisms for oversight remain weak, staff shortages persist, and accountability is often absent.

The message comes through loud and clear: America’s disability care systems are broken. From New Hampshire to New Jersey, Massachusetts to Iowa, and Arizona-the evidence points to a national emergency that demands federal attention. Advocates say stronger oversight, consistent standards, and a commitment to person-centered care are required to ensure dignity, safety, and justice for people with disabilities. Without systemic reform, these tragedies will continue to repeat themselves, and the nation will fail those who need protection the most.

Sources

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