Success of homes for discharged patients

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33032, 27 September 1972, Page 14

Success of homes for discharged patients

Sunnyside Hospital’s experimental rehabilitation of patients in family groups in their own homes is reported to have been an “ unqualified success ”. These are people who can no longer be described as mentally ill, but who, on discharge from treatment, cannot be expected to manage their lives alone or find a satisfactory place within their own families. The social adjustment of almost any person who has been in hospital for a long time and who has become dependent on institutional care provides difficulties that are best faced gradually, and with the support of other people. Like many people who have never been considered mentally ill, some patients will never be wholly self-reliant; yet there is certainly no need for them to remain in a hospital The “ group home ” appears to be an excellent answer to their problems, and to the problems of patients who require only a short period to readjust themselves to life outside the hospital community

Hospital workers have to assist patients to adjust themselves to life within a hospital The outside community has to help the discharged patient to regain a secure and satisfying position in life outside the hospital. Indeed, much of the success of the group homes in Christchurch is attributable to the interest taken by local authorities and church social workers, and by other organisations, including student groups Although the former patients have the continuing support and advice of professional staff at Sunnyside Hospital, it is desirable that the homes should not be regarded as extensions of the hospital and that the former patients become as independent as possible Many of them are elderly: and, though all have a degree of economic self-sufficiency through pensions or employment. most need some help to maintain and manage their new homes, often by the performance of small tasks that are taken for granted in the average household

The scheme could probablv be extended to offer rehabilitation to more patients: but this, and the continuation of the present scheme, depends on the finding of permanent accommodation. The svmnathetic interest of the State Advances Corporation and of local authorities appears to be necessarv Because the financial resources of the “ families ” are limited, the provision of houses of the size reotiired at annronriate rentals seems to be outside the province of the private landlord. The shoct-term leases under which the present six houses are occupied are something of a threat to the security of their tenants It is to be honed that permanent housing will soon be made available now that the wo»-th of the scheme has been proved: perhaps some of the city’s service clubs could assist in finding and preparing houses for this purpose.