Senior citizens with disabilities often live in nursing homes, which are located across about half of the country. The remainder are not eligible for public housing.

There are no Independent Living Centers in Nicaragua. Disability advocates report that the vast majority of persons with disabilities live with their families because they do not have access to independent housing.

Institutionalization

With regard to long-term hospitalization, there are two major state-run centers that provide short and long-term services, accommodation, and care for persons with disabilities The Psychiatric or Mental Health Hospital, located in the capital city provides psychological and psychiatric counseling, mental rehabilitation, and acute care for 200 - 250 patients.³¹ The "Aldo Chavarría"

Physical Rehabilitation Hospital provides accommodation for periods shorter than 6 months.³² However, when a person is abandoned by his or her family, he or she may remain hospitalized for longer periods.

There are other government-subsidized treatment centers that provide similar services for periods shorter than one year. These centers are listed in Table One.

Table 1: Government Subsidized Homes

A medical prescription is required for patient admission to the hospital facilities. In contrast, admission to a home is based on the family's decision or upon suggestion of a non-governmental organization. Organizations may recommend admission when a person with disabilities is considered to be in a situation of risk, work exploitation, sexual exploitation (primarily in the case of children), or when he or she has been abandoned by his or her family. In addition, the Ministry of the Family refers street children to these homes as a protective measure, even though these children may have no disabilities.³³

31. Aura Martínez (Director of the National Psychiatric Hospital), interviewed by author, Managua, February 2003.

32. Raúl Jarquín (Director of the "Aldo Chavarría" Rehabilitation Hospital), interviewed by author, Managua, February 2003.

33. Berna Castillo (Director of Rehabilitation of the Ministry of the Family), interviewed by author, Managua, February 2003