Life in the community: four years after the closure of an institution.
Life experiences of 18 people 4 years after deinstitutionalization were examined. The ecological approach included observation in people's homes, interviews with the 18 individuals and people in their social networks, and a survey of other service providers. Because this research was a follow-up to an earlier study of the process of closing an institution, the findings are particularly significant for future institution closures and individual planning practices. Three major implications were noted: (a) the need to treat deinstitutionalization as a process; (b) the need to pursue alternatives to the 4- or 5-bed group home, which currently dominates community residential services; and (c) the need for community-based support services to develop new, more effective approaches to community integration.
Center for Research and Education in Human Services, Ontario, Canada.
J
J
Lord
A
A
Pedlar
D000328:Adult; D003688:Deinstitutionalization / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006271:Health Facility Closure / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support