Housing agency works to accommodate 772-pound tenant

Cleveland.com ^ | 11/17/03 | The Associated Press

[mansion]

CLEVELAND (AP) -- The city's public housing agency is trying to resolve a lengthy dispute by accommodating the needs of a 772-pound tenant immobilized by her weight.

Carmen Bowen, 44, has been involved in a two-year dispute with the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority over how much work must be done to help her move around her apartment.

The agency is about to provide her with a handicapped-accessible apartment with extra space to allow an oversized wheelchair to turn. Bowen lives with her 19-year-old son and a caregiver.

Still, Bowen filed a discrimination complaint, saying the agency took too long. Housing officials responded that the agency went well beyond what federal disability law requires at a cost of about $15,000.

"Her special condition requires special equipment," acting Executive Director George Phillips said last week.

The modifications include removing doors and walls, installing an automatic door operator and panic device, demolishing the existing bathroom and installing a special shower, and putting in a sidewalk to the front door. Bowen could move in next month.

In her current apartment, Bowen can't move from a medical bed in the middle of her living room.

In August, 22 firefighters and emergency medical technicians worked for 2½ hours to move Bowen from her apartment so she could have dental work. Emergency crews had to help her back when she returned. The authority widened the door in October.

Bowen does not yet have the wheelchair. The Medicaid government insurance program has not yet said whether it will pay for it.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Now if she sued Medicaid for a gastric bypass surgery, I would be more supportive.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Oh, yuck.

[never4get]

My guess is that in many different ways it will take a ton of dough to satisfy this large woman.

[sirshackleton]

The agency is about to provide her with a handicapped-accessible apartment with extra space to allow an oversized wheelchair to turn.

[Scarpetta]

She obviously found a lawyer who makes housecalls.

[SamAdams76]

It would have been easier to just bring the dentist and his equipment into the apartment. I wonder how the dentist was able to accomodate her at his office in the first place.

That is no way to live.

[11th Earl of Mar]

She kind of gives the expression 'sitting around the house' new meaning.

[mansion]

Updates on this earth-shattering story from the Cleveland Plain Dealer: (excerpts)

The housing authority is about to meet some of those needs as it accedes to demands from Bowen and her nurse, Virginia Turner, to provide Bowen with an accessible, one-story apartment that will accommodate an oversized electric wheelchair.

"They have violated her civil rights" by taking so long to address her needs, Turner said.

For years, Bowen has not been able to move from her bed and do what people consider normal daily functions. Her caregiver must prepare and give her food and even help her sit on a bedpan. She plays video games, listens to music and watches television. She writes poetry to boost her self-esteem.

"Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity," Turner said.

[giznort]

Harpoon that whale!

[ambrose]

Kevin Spacey would know how to deal with this creature (ever see Seven?)...

[I still care]

She can't be feeding herself. She can't move from her bed. It's her son and caregiver who are feeding her. Replace the caregiver with another one, who understands about diet, and I bet the weight drops off her.

[anobjectivist]

If our country has a cancer, this is its form.

The social damage we are causing ourselves by supporting this is immeasurable.

Is there a way to protest any aid being given to her?

[ikka]

For years, Bowen has not been able to move from her bed and do what people consider normal daily functions. Her caregiver must prepare and give her food

Her caregiver should be sued for malpractice. Just give her the basic 1200 calories a day meal... it's not like the fat lady can do anything about it!

[MediaMole]

She reminds me of a 500+ pound vegetarian I knew.

Of course, he considered cake, frosted flakes, and doughnuts to be vegetables. Guy ate two boxes of breakfast cereal, a dozen doughnuts and an entire cake every day. Then he sued everyone who ever turned him down for a job.

[Kenton]

Geez, Americans who are too fat to move, yet there are North Koreans and Africans starving to death. Hey! I have a modest proposal....

EEEEEEEEEeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!! You don't mean to [gasp] FEED HER to the less fortunate, do you?

[talleyman]

Just move her to Ripley's (or Coney Island) & charge admission - she gets custom digs and can pay her own way - problem solved.

[wizardoz]

Ain'tcha ever heard of the Atkins Diet?!

[DCBryan1]

She plays video games, listens to music and watches television. She writes poetry to boost her self-esteem.

Wow, all that activity, no wonder she is damn near a half ton crybaby.

I bet she exerts a total of 100 calories a day in energy, with 99% of her activity being "bodily functions" in regard to expelling waste.

I bet the lard ass breaks a sweat just having a bowel movement.

[Spok]

So does the food stamp program discriminate against people with her "disability" if they don't determine her food stamp needs based on her caloric intake? (She must eat like a platoon of Marines to maintain her size.) How long before we see this lawsuit?

[Tacis]

I believe that there are sections of the zoo that are already fitted out to meet her exact needs. And, the city could claim that they provide an outstanding security system with bars and all.