TO THE EDITOR:

I have noticed the series of letters to the editor concerning your editorial "Nursing Homes: Who's looking out for residents, taxpayers?" and Bill Day's cartoon from March 1, 2000 do not include the viewpoint of a nursing home resident. Family members who have placed people in nursing homes and paid staff may declare that "there is seldom any abuse or neglect…" but everyone in Tennessee knows that no one wants to live in a nursing home.

The most hypocritical was the letter by the top paid lobbyist of the nursing home industry on March 24th, who whined that the Commercial Appeal had not been fair, and Bill Day was "sensationalistic." Tennessee spends 95% of the public funds for long-term care to the institutions that pay his salary.

The past legislative session the nursing home residents and advocates begged for a small 11 million dollar program for alternatives to nursing home care but were rebuffed, while the nursing home industry took home a 31 million dollar increase. The nursing home industries greed and huge expensive on lobbing efforts is the biggest barrier to quality long-term care in Tennessee.

- Tim Wheat