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Inside Sundquist's speech was interrupted by an ADAPT member who challenged the Governor's record of providing no alternatives to nursing home care. "Because of your lack of leadership," stated the activist, "Tennessee is last in the nation providing home and community-based options." Sundquist had no response, he read the prepared speech he had read in Nashville and Jackson.
Outside a dozen Memphis Police blocked protestors who chanted: "The money is there for long-term care!" and "Our homes, not nursing homes!" Sundquist's public relations department released a statement: "... ADAPT...[has] no right to interfere with the Sundquist supporters' right to peaceful and lawful assembly..."
"Obviously the incumbent governor plans to campaign with galas to hand-picked supporters," said Tim Wheat of Memphis ADAPT, "and continue to ignore the needs of typical Tennesseans." Willie Robinson, in the crowd of demonstrators, could live in the community if he lived in almost any other state. Tennessee, however, will only provide him services in a nursing home.
"Freedom of choice. We are simply asking that the Governor work to provide alternatives to nursing homes," said Dawn Russell of ADAPT. "His own administration found home and community-based programs to be cost effective, but he will not take action that would upset the nursing-home industry."
ADAPT activists pointed to several studies done during the Sundquist tenure that the Governor has ignored. They hold that Sundquist's favoritism of the nursing-home industry, his apathy and his lack of direction, has caused Tennessee's crisis in long-term care. ADAPT of Tennessee offers suggestions how a strong governor could work to improve long-term care. They include amending the current waivers, endorsing national legislation MiCASA, and asking the National Governor's Association to include a presentation on MiCASA.
54 million Americans have some level of disability, 26 million people have a severe disability. [Current Population Reports. U.S. Department of Commerce - Census Bureau. Aug. 1997 p. 70-61]
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