Can we rehabilitate everyone?

Abstract

There is an increasing momentum for the provision of care for people with chronic mental illness to be made in settings other than mental hospitals. One concern arising from this shift in emphasis is with those patients who may find it particularly difficult to live in the community.

The relationship between deinstitutionalization and quality of care in longer-term psychiatric and social care facilities in Europe: A cross-sectional study

“…It may be that other variables such as social networks [23] and employment [24], linked to deinstitutionalization but not measured in our study, are more important to quality of life for this group. Previous studies have found an improvement in quality of life among service users living in the community [25][26][27][28][29]. As this study was crosssectional, we were unable to evaluate change in quality of life.…”

Establishing a Recovery-Focused Rehabilitation Unit: A Case Example

“…Consumers often have a history of multiple and lengthy hospitalisations and poor response or adherence to medication. There is some evidence to suggest that even consumers with severe disabilities or major chronic illness known to be incapable of living outside hospital can make worthwhile gains in levels of social functioning and in quality of life when appropriate help is provided in a specialised rehabilitation unit (Atkin, Meats, & Sincock, 1991).…”