Ancora Psychiatric Hospital Info
Amenities
Accessibility
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Wheelchair accessible entrance
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Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Best WLM Reviews
Wonder what would happen if they removed all the reviews from people who were forced to be here.
I grew up in Indian Mills, NJ and they took us to Ancora Psychiatric Hospital for a school field trip. I worked in mental health in Charlotte, North Carolina for many years. Ancora needs to be updated. I am sure the food could be improved if the budget was increased. I know the place is dangerous and there are problems here. People steal from Mental patients everyplace they go. If the patient has problems with people stealing then there should be a secure area in every room that can be locked. Maybe new lockers would solve the problem. If the staff and the people running the place don't care then they need to be removed by force. If you don't care a small amount you should not be working there. I am sure there are race problems among the staff and issues with foreigners who work there. Ancora could be so much more than it is currently. The staff and the patients could get involved with farming in the summertime. You could have a small farm store selling produce to the public. There could be a new pool outside for summer activities. The patients could make fudge and sell to the public. You could install some LED lighting inside and out. Redo the concrete work outside on the walkways. Add a Blueberry or Strawberry farm for the patients to work at in the summertime. If you want to reduce violence and boost the patients spirits have a monthly grab bag for the staff. You could pull a random name and help that person financially. Even if you did not like the person you would learn something. I am sure the patient would enjoy the help in the end.
My relative was here back in the 80s and one day tried to leave because she did not like it there. She was returned to her ward, but soon afterwards had an "accident" that needed a blood transfusion. After that, she never left her bed and literally started to rot. A large hole developed on her thigh and it was all downhill from there. She died soon after and the family believes she was given tainted blood, causing her to rot.
Facility staff goes to lunch from 11:30 to 1:00. They will not inform the sending facilities of this. Admissions office, security guards, etc are told to lie to you and say there is a "delay" in admitting the new patient. They expect new patients to wait in the parking lot, in restraints, soiling themselves, while we watch the staff driving back on campus after lunch at 1pm before we can be allowed inside. They DO NOT informing the sending facility that they will not take new patient's between those hours.
My niece has been at this hospital for a couple of years now. I have found the people to be caring and trying to provide a reasonable life for the people there. Most of the clients are very disturbed people who need constant supervision. My niece is one of them. She has an aide 24/7 . She will sometimes hit people for no apparent reason. And she has been hit. So they try to protect the patients from each other. It is not an easy thing to do. At least these people are not in prison. New Jersey seems to still have reasonable facilities for the mentally ill. I am grateful for it.
This facilities flaws are the flaws of the entire mental health system. I am truly lucky to be free. To survive in the system (and Ancora) you have to completely and utterly know that you are not in a free place and trust if you ever leave you may find the person you once were. I have spent a year collectively in the mental health system. I have my entire life been an pacifist and non violent even when attacked. This place is better than some of the facilities that I've been, to which is a deeply poor comparison. In my stay there I saw the doors open to an elderly unit. The smell of the neglect was nauseating there was no light. Words cannot fully describe. It was truly inhumane. This facility gives life sentences something I feel is immoral without a jury. This all doesn't just occur in Ancora but in a wide array of facilities across the Nation. The 1995 disability act is deeply disregard across the country in mental institutions. I have personally witnessed it. We need a wide reform of the mental health system. Its hard to fully rate a mental institution by stars I would give it 2 because some can go outside and there was an actual sense of routine in my ward which is scientifically proven to help with psychosis and other cognitive disorders. I hope to whoever reads this if you are diagnosed with schizophrenia (like me) or any other disorder, I hope you know you can be more that when the mental health system defines you as. I am more than functional NOT BECAUSE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM. I recommend that you remove your self stigma (because you deserve it). I know I had a lot after I left mental institutions. Have a goal even if its a small one and keep setting goals because you can achieve them even if it seems impossible. Also if there is something that makes you feel human wether it be painting, music, or poetry never stop doing it. Because its worth it to feel human.
They have “Supervisor” on staff who do not understand or speak English. You would think someone who is responsible for an entire ward would speak the common language of the patients or at least understand. This is not a hospital it is more like a prison. Horrible place.
Staff are abusive and get away with hurting the patients. They do nothing but sit on their ass. The administration threatens you. They refuse to allow charges you press on the workers to go through. They punish you for being I'll. They encourage racism. The staff also encourage others patients to heat up the patients they do not like with no consequences for the ones who attack. Shut this place down they hurt people for no reason.
Quick Facts About Ancora Psychiatric Hospital
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