The residential needs and preferences of persons with serious mental illness: A comparison of consumers and family members

Abstract

This study reports on a systematic statewide effort to determine the residential needs and preferences of two important groups: primary consumers of mental health services and family members of consumers. Two comparable surveys regarding the residential needs of consumers were conducted. In all, 314 consumers and 459 family members participated in the survey. A comparison of the preferences of family members and consumers suggests that family members more often prefer congregate living situations and more staff support than do consumers. Consumers more often express a desire to reside by themselves without staff and without other persons who are mentally ill. While the direct comparison of preferences from these two constituencies has limitations, these data do suggest significant variability in needs and preferences voiced by consumers and their family members; discrepancies that need to be addressed by mental health policymakers and planners.

Current and Preferred Housing of Psychiatric Consumers/Survivors

“…Our results are consistent with previous studies that have found that individuals who have been diagnosed with psychiatric illnesses, like most other people, prefer to live in their own house or apartment (e.g., Friedrich et al, 1999;Rogers et al, 1994;Tanzman, 1993). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first large-scale study of consumer preferences for housing in Canada.…”

“…She reported that consumers consistently reported: (a) wanting to live in their own apartment or house; (b) preferring to live alone or with a spouse/partner or friend rather than other mental health consumers; (c) wanting to have staff support available as needed; and (c) needing access to material and financial supports, such as rent subsidies, telephone, and transportation. Research published since Tanzman's (1993) review has yielded similar results (Friedrich, Hollingsworth, Hradek, Friedrich, & Culp, 1999;Massey & Wu, 1993Minsky, Riesser, & Duffy, 1995;Rogers, Danley, Anthony, Martin, & Walsh, 1994;. This research also has shown that consumers prefer more independent housing than what treatment staff Massey & Wu, 1993;Minsky et al, 1995; or family members recommend for them (Friedrich et al, 1999;Rogers et al, 1994).…”

“…Research published since Tanzman's (1993) review has yielded similar results (Friedrich, Hollingsworth, Hradek, Friedrich, & Culp, 1999;Massey & Wu, 1993Minsky, Riesser, & Duffy, 1995;Rogers, Danley, Anthony, Martin, & Walsh, 1994;. This research also has shown that consumers prefer more independent housing than what treatment staff Massey & Wu, 1993;Minsky et al, 1995; or family members recommend for them (Friedrich et al, 1999;Rogers et al, 1994).…”

Les conditions d'hébergement favorables au rétablissement : perspective des usagers et usagères

“…Les intervenantes et intervenants en santé mentale et les familles sont plus conservateurs et prudents que les usagères et usagers quant au niveau d'encadrement de l'hébergement (Friedrich, Hollingsworth, Hradek, Friedrich et Culp, 1999 ;Massey et Wu, 1993 ;Minsky, Gubman Riesser et Duffy, 1995 ;Piat, Lesage et al, 2008 ;Rogers, Danley, Anthony, Martin et Walsh, 1994). Pourtant, pour les usagers et usagères, la liberté personnelle que permet l'hébergement est un élément important et parfois déterminant dans leur satisfaction envers cet hébergement (Boydell, 2006 ;Lambert, Ricci, Harris et Deane, 1999 ;Nelson, Hall et Forchuk, 2003).…”

Les préférences résidentielles des personnes souffrant de troubles mentaux graves : une étude descriptive

“…Nelson et Peddle (2005) insistent pour dire que le choix de la résidence et l'intégration dans la communauté sont liés au statut économique de l'usager et que sans les ressources financières nécessaires, l'appropriation du pouvoir ne peut être atteinte par les usagers. Fait intéressant, les familles (Friedrich et al, 1999 ;Rogers et al, 1994) et les professionnels (Massey et Wu, 1993 ;Minsky et al, 1995) préfèrent que les usagers vivent dans des environnements encadrés par des professionnels, dans une proportion plus importante que celle des usagers.…”