Evaluation of alternative residential facilities for the severely mentally handicapped in Wessex: Contact by professionals and client morbidity

Service Contact: Changes Over Five Years in a Total Population Sample

“…Glossop, Felce, Smith & Kushlick (1980), in examining the frequency with which various professionals were recorded as having contacted people with severe mental handicap living in different forms of residential care in the Wessex region, reported that clients living in smaller, locally based hospital units 'faired as well as or better than clients living in traditional facilities in terms of reported contact with professionals and levels of morbidity'. Glossop, Felce, Smith & Kushlick (1980), in examining the frequency with which various professionals were recorded as having contacted people with severe mental handicap living in different forms of residential care in the Wessex region, reported that clients living in smaller, locally based hospital units 'faired as well as or better than clients living in traditional facilities in terms of reported contact with professionals and levels of morbidity'.…”

“…Few studies have reported on patterns of service usage over time. Glossop, Felce, Smith & Kushlick (1980), in examining the frequency with which various professionals were recorded as having contacted people with severe mental handicap living in different forms of residential care in the Wessex region, reported that clients living in smaller, locally based hospital units 'faired as well as or better than clients living in traditional facilities in terms of reported contact with professionals and levels of morbidity'. Conroy & Bradley (1985), in a five year longitudinal study of the closure programme at Pennhurst State School and Institution, reported an increase in the amount of service provided to clients following their move to community settings.…”