The research for the public affairs journalism seven article series focused on the breakdown of the adult care system, with an emphasis on Buncombe County and the privatization of adult care homes. These general findings led to further research in specific areas such as lack of beds available for those with long-term mental illnesses. Within the realm of mental illness as an issue in North Carolina, the researchers developed integral knowledge on the status of patients, the action by state and county, budgetary constraints, legal ramifications, adult care home violations in regard to patient health and sanitation, employment in facilities, facility conditions, trafficking between states, the professionals within social services that monitor homes and the crisis status involving the Sheriff's Department and EMS in Buncombe Country in response to adult care home calls. The primary findings included lapses on state and local levels in terms of availability of mental health treatment for those with mental illnesses. The main conclusions found were that due to budget constraints, some adult care homes are being forced to close down, causing the Department of Social Services to attempt to find new homes for these people. Most of them may likely end up in jail or homeless. Adult care homes were supposed to be structured as assisted living facilities, but are instead housing residents with mental illnesses. Because they are not allowed to, the adult care homes have no mental health personnel on duty. The researchers recommend that North Carolina implements a more efficient and productive community living environment for those with mental illness to integrate more successfully back into society.
