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I worked at Pennhurst, and trust me the patient ratio was far worse. The state had its protocol that stated how many aides to patients, but we were far understaffed. I started working there in the 70's as an Aide and the starting pay was only just above $4 an hour!! It was extremely hard to have the staff, but we made the best we could.

The policy's have changed and now you need to have Dr's to do everything, there really is no more protocol's. Have you ever tried to get a Dr to come in at 4am to write an order, or even to answer a page to get a verbal order? I was laid off from Pennhurst, and reassigned to Norristown State Hospital. The staff ratio is still extremely bad 2/36 normally. You are not allowed to restrain patients even if hurting themself, you are not able to do many things that are for HELP. It is a horrible set up, and it is hard to get this information out. The patients do know who is good and who is not, and their attitude reflex that. I know that I have done the best job ever and my patients love me in every manor, I wish the state would allow us to work with them more and provide that safe feeling we all deserve.

BY THE WAY, THE STARTING SALARY FOR AN AIDE IS $11.50 PER HOUR.

WHO YA GONNA CALL?

MOTTS
whats does white balance do for digital photography?

i work here from 1985 o 1995 in bldg. 21

squzz, I could not agree more. I use to wrok there and I had many patients that loved me. I was injuried in a fight with a patient and several other patients came to my aid. I know there were some horrible things that happened their and some very uncaring people. However, most of the staff loved the patients and we worked with them all the time. They were able to do the gardens, have dinner in social groups and just enjoyed their life. If you go into Spring City (the closest town where most patients relocated) you will find many patients that where "able to acheive activites of daily lifes" that are eating off of the streets and in very poor conditions.

These tunnels where used to transport patients on rainy days or the patients that where for any reason unable to be outside. The usage of these tunnels where actually stopped due to staff and patients being assaulted.

My mother worked here for years, and she was actually noted to be a "Queen to patients. She use to stand by them and she fought for years to be a patient advocate before there were such people. I was able to learn a lot about Pennhurst and other hospitals like them. There are a lot of terrible things that happened there, however there was also a lot of good. These places aloud patients that would normally be tossed off as "retards" to have a self worth. They upkept the grounds and assisted with staff. My father recently passed away, there where 7 patients from this faciltiy that showed up to the funeral to wish my mother the best of luck.

PS-My mother never turned in her keys, so I now have access to the grounds but do not know how to get in and out with out having security.

Day?!? I could spend the rest of my life in there!!

Now that they should throw away!

No one, not no one would build a chimney like that today.

A marble fireplace! I can't believe they would destroy something like this.

Danny Being Manny, you're a sicko. All that intricate wood detail ; it's really beautiful.

The things we leave behind----

Lovely, crystal clear photo!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, everybody for making me laugh!