Housing solution sought for special needs patients

Nickey Wade needs a place to live but his brother, Robert has not had a lot of luck finding a place.

"I'm the guardian of my mentally ill 24-year-old brother," Robert told Fox6 News reporter Ronda Robinson.

"Right now he is going through a lot of medical issues - i.e. a feeding tube that is permanently being installed in him and he's needing additional care. Care that I cannot give him. Even though it hurts, I think he needs to go into a 24 hour care facility," Robery said.

According to Robert, when he called to see if a facility had space for his brother, he did not get far.

"Medicaid refers to Social Security. Social Security refers to Medicaid. Its almost nonstop. I've been doing this almost a month and a half got nowhere," Robert said.

Ronda Robinson called the Alabama Department of Mental Health and the Alabama Medicaid Agency and asked both organizations to help find options for Nickey. In the meantime, his brother is still waiting.

"I really don't know where to go. No one is helping me, I just get more numbers. It's hard to ask, almost beg for help, but it's like what do you do? Nickey is currently being seen at a hospital here in Birmingham. They have to keep him until they find a place for him or until someone is able to care for him and his needs."

There are currently about 3,000 people across Alabama looking for housing for mentally ill loved ones. Nickey Wade is number 2,000 on that list.

"We prioritize the list based on different circumstances like a drastic change in medical condition or finances. We are servicing everyone as fast as we can," public information officer for the State Department of Mental Health, Jeff Shackelford, said.

Shackelford also said that his department is facing some of the same budget and financial cuts and challenges that many departments across the state are facing.

Copyright 2012 WBRC. All rights reserved.