To the Editor:

I am a parent of a client that lives in Sunmount SORA housing and know of many others in the St. Lawrence County area and I am very concerned that our loved ones in danger!

Sunmount has stepped into these houses and said no more per-diem workers! They call it double dipping, because they are retired and are collecting a pension.

Now these people are tested, investigated, and trained to work with the disabled clients. It cost about $50,000 to train people for the job. Now they have decided that the regular employees should work 16-hour days for 4-5 days to make up for the firing of the per-diems.

As far as I can see, this is opening up a huge can of worms for abuse. The staff will be over worked, tired, and missing their own families.

What about the over tired, cranky staff member who is now dealing with a client that is having a bad day and decides to become violent because his eggs are not cooked right or they have had a change in medication and it has not kicked in yet and he is out of control? Then the staff worker who is over worked and tired, and at the end of their rope.

Where is the safety for the client or the staff? Anybody that has family or friends in these houses, understands the ups and downs with these clients. If we as family could handle our loved ones, we would have them home with us.

But for all concerned, we know they are safe in these houses and they are there because we love them and want them safe! With the per-diems gone, many of their activities will be gone because of no coverage and because the clients are not kept busy, there will be more problems in the houses. These per-diems know these clients and understand their problems and work well with them. If it were not for the per-diems, our son would not have been able to come home for a July 4 family cook out. All the per-diems at the house our son is at, are the most wonderful caring people I have ever known!

What this boils down to is; our friends and family members will be at risk because of over worked, exhausted staff that the state is willing to overtime to instead of $15 to a well trained, rested per-diem.

As for double dipping, what about people on social security that are allowed a certain amount of working income, is that double dipping? I think not! That's called trying to keep up with the cost of living. Come on people!

Call you congressman, your senators, what ever it takes to ensure the safety of our friends and loved ones! We need to fight for our loved ones because they can't!

Susan A. Moore

Saranac Lake