Nursing home for disabled prisoners planned

ROCKY HILL, Conn. (AP) - State officials are planning to open a 95-bed, specialized nursing home for severely disabled prisoners and mentally ill patients in Rocky Hill.

The Hartford Courant reports the facility will be owned and operated by a private contractor on the site of the former Haven Health Care Center.

State officials hope to have the home open in February.

Officials say the facility will accept patients who do not pose a threat to staff or the community and patients will live in locked units closely monitored.

Mayor Anthony LaRosa said the facility would be near 150 to 300 residents. He vowed to stop the project.

The proposed nursing home is designed to reduce long-term care costs for prison inmates and other institutionalized people.