4,537 Comments for Pennhurst State School

o and my school is SPring-Ford

I have been living in Royersford for maybe 2 and a half years and i am 14, i know many people who were at Pennhursts as a Job and as a person many said its was a place and the others it was a nightmare. I have seen Bike Mike is it? at my school near a 7/11 little far? and i have talked to them they are very nice just a little slow and there is nothing wrong about it.

wow memories ....when i look at this beast...do you have a poster????

awesome I still know all the techniques on it worked it in chicago.....

ha ha i worked this thing!!!

when my mom was younger she would go there to help wrap presents for the people there. her friends mom was an administrator i think. she said the people there were nice .

oh man do I remember the tunnels. the tunnels connected all the bldgs. on the lower campus. came in handy during the winter for traveling Throughout the tunnels you had side rooms. there was a lot of weed smoking down there and a lot of hanky -panky also among the workers. oh the memories!

Worked at Pennhurst from 1/77-84 and i can assure that the patients showers didn't look like that.. as a matter of fact it looks like a shower that was reserved for workers possibly in Maint. or the many abandoned bldgs. and wards that existed even when I worked there.

we have a 1960. do you want it?

If this was a coocoo house, why would they put stairs near the window?? help patients walk out the window??

yes , it did work there was electricity there. people should understand that in earlier times institutions operated all the same. it wasn't meant to be cruel, it was to deal with people that were very difficult,scared,aggressive. a new approach was adopted in recent years.

i work in a much nicer but similiar place. this is proberbly a hydro tub for therapy

Wow man, I just finished reading Lou Chapmans report on staying Penhurst State hospital. Having worked with Develope Mentally Disabled Adults myself for a number of years in a much nicer setting, though I can relate to the placid apathetic attitude when I brought to the attention to the owners of the group home of 48 clients both male/female high/low functioning that the actual "programming Director," himself was abusive to the clients. Hey, as long as this guy wrote up great results for the state...they could care less. I was/am a whistle blower and informed the state. They are still in buisness....all I know is....I did the best I can and in the best intrest of the clients. Back in the day, and not long ago, working as a CNA I and my co-workers were given 17 patients to one CNA....and that was SUB ACCUTE for the 3-11 shift. How can I provide proper nursing care regaurdless of sub-accute or long term whatever....my patients need and deserve proper nusring care for even to meet they're basic need's?! I made an appointment with the then DON (Director of Nursing) and it was all nicey-nice until I brought up the fact I and my fellow CNA's were handiling 17 patients on the 3-11 shift and when will it stop?! She blunlety told me I was lucky I wasn't given 19 to 22 ! I couldn't believe her insensitivity towards her/my charges (patients) and maybe I did more harm then good by quiting then and there...but hey, someone had to put there head on the chopping block. I have been in this nursing buisness a very long time. I remember back when AIDS was called GRID and patients food trays were left outside the patients door from the room , left on the floor, because of stupidity. I also know when my severly retarded cusin was dragged down the hall at Fairview to prep him ready for a "Home Visit." We were told to "call," first before picking him up...why, to cover the tracks? Like Lou Chapman wrote in her wonderful report concerning such moves by the stuff to be fore warned? Yes it's sad....be it any type of institutions....we warehouse those we can't afford at home of have time to care and yes, our environs may not be condusive to home care....However, there are many unsung hero's and we can volunteer even in these trying times....an hour here at the VA ...an hour there....Hell, turn the TV off or step away from the computer and due a little "feel good ," work....donate some clothes to a Long Term Care Faucility,"...many of these folks only recieve clothing from the next guy who died for Pete's sake...you think I am kidding? Mag's...books...hey these folks can read...okay...read to them....I am just saying...people especially the mentally challenged....they are innocents and we need to protect them and not let Willowbrook and the like....happen. That's all I am saying, not pointing fingers, but this NMBY of gropu homes and the like.....think about , thats all. I am getting off my soap box, be well people and spread peace man, not negative stuff okay? CC

Lynne writes, " ..loses its je ne sais quoi and seems - I don't know - redundant..". your rich irony, while almost certainly lost on most here, is just too delicious to go unremarked. Now THAT was laugh out loud funny. Thanks for the chuckle.

what we once knew is now lost