Aging Disabled Face Dwindling Options
Woman with Down syndrome symptomatic of problem with housing system By Christy Gutowski, Chicago Tribune reporter Monica Lanskey Born with Down syndrome 65 years ago, Monica Laskey spent nearly half her life thriving on the campus of Misericordia, but the Chicago nonprofit told her family in October she required too much care after injuring her hip to return to her independent-living apartment. And the charity serving people with developmental disabilities said it had no other openings for her. So for nearly six months, as a relative searched for housing, Laskey was forced to live at a rehabilitation nursing home, though she didn't need convalescent care. She spent most of her time sitting in a dark room with a gravely ill roommate. Laskey would turn out to be one of the lucky ones. Two weeks ago, she moved into a private, 16-bed group home. Her ordeal in finding that space, though, is reflective of the challenges families are increasingly facing as they s