Abstract:

A study of 172 long-stay hospital patients in Australia who were discharged to supported community accommodations to determine their adjustment in the community. They were interviewed regarding their satisfaction with their accommodations, the caretakers' perceptions of the patients' impairment and management difficulty, and the restrictiveness of practices in the various accommodations. Most were considered to be functioning well, although 22 of the more impaired and difficult patients were rehospitalized. 78% preferred living in the community, and only 7% preferred a hospital. They benefited from the supported, subsidized, permanent housing available in the community and required low levels of mental health care.