CDR clients noted in county report defend agency

PATTI SINGER • STAFF WRITER • Democrat and Chronicle, JULY 28, 2010

Three clients cited in the report by Monroe County Department of Human Services refuted claims that they were neglected or received substandard care by attendants in a home care program administered by the Center for Disability Rights.

Stephen Kasper and Pam Stover said they were identified as Clients No. 2 and 4 respectively in a report last week by Department of Human Services Commissioner Kelly A. Reed that led to the county ending a contract with CDR for the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program. Rebeca Juarez spoke on behalf of her grandfather Agustin Zabala, who does not speak English and whom she identified as Client 3.

The person identified in the report as Client No. 1 did not attend a news conference this afternoon at CDR offices on State Street.

CDR has maintained that the county’s allegations of widespread lapses in care are false.

Chris Hilderbrant, chief operating officer of CDR, said that over the past few days the agency had been speaking to the individuals it believed were the ones in the county report. CDR invited the individuals to refute what clients said are inaccuracies in the county’s report.

The county report cited instances in which attendants did not report for work, were intoxicated, or had other issues that compromised the care of the consumer.

The individuals said they had been visited by investigators from the human services department, but they were not sure of the purpose of the visit. They said the investigators asked them whether they were satisfied with their care and whether there were any problems. They said that when asked about their care, they replied that they were satisfied.

They said that because they hired their attendants through a self-directed program, it was up to them to deal with problems. They said that CDR offered them support in how to do that.

PSINGER@DemocratandChronicle.com