Closing of brain disorder center, with 88 precious beds, sends ripples nationwide

As a New Hampshire facility for people with brain injuries and developmental disabilities prepares to close after months of scrutiny over allegations of abuse, the families of the people who live there are scrambling to find new placements for their loved ones.

Just 10 people remain at Lakeview NeuroRehabilitation Center, an 88-bed facility near the Maine border. Tyler Richardson's 15-year-old son is one of them. Richardson has been looking for a new placement for nearly three months to no avail. His son's autism and anger problems result in unpredictable, violent behaviors. Once, he bit his grandmother's finger off.

The paucity of such centers for people with extreme brain disorders and related behavioral problems means Lakeview's closing is sending national ripples through the industry and stressing out families, some of whom sent their loved ones to Lakeview as a last resort.