From Carolina Public Press: Mentally ill sent to Nutz R Us, despite name, bad inspections

White Fawn Family Care Home, which serves mentally ill adults in Asheville, is owned by a company that incorporated itself as Nutz R Us. Photo by Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press

Nutz R Us, a Buncombe County company that incorporated under that name in 2008, operates assisted living facilities catering to mentally ill adults, according to a story filed by Frank Taylor, managing editor of Carolina Public Press.

Multiple officials with state and local public health agencies have told Carolina Public Press that they find the name Nutz R Us appalling.

But they also said they lack the statutory authority to do anything about it.

The parent of a mentally ill adult, whom a court-ordered guardian placed in a Nutz R Us facility, recently contacted CPP with grave concerns about the quality of care there. Some of her concerns appear supported by deficiencies recorded on the facilities’ inspections.

Even so, the homes that Nutz R Us operates are officially licensed and operating according to state law. The inspection deficiencies have led to penalties and a requirement for corrections, rather than an outright threat of more serious state intervention.

But there’s that name.

Why would someone operating a facility serving the needs of mentally ill adults incorporate their business with a name that is widely viewed as demeaning its clients?

Read the full story here.

 

 

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One thought on “From Carolina Public Press: Mentally ill sent to Nutz R Us, despite name, bad inspections

  1. boatrocker

    Classy.

    It’s nice to know the mentally ill are in such good hands in WNC. As many are also vets, maybe we could open another care facility called
    Betweenthecracks for forgetting about them once they fulfill their obligation to fight our corporatist wars. Sheesh.

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