The British Journal of Psychiatry 146: 358-366 (1985)
© 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Behaviour and skills of severely retarded adults in hospitals and small residential homes

S Rawlings

The behaviour and self-help skills of mobile, severely or profoundly retarded adults with behaviour disorders, living in hospitals, were compared with those of a matched group in small homes outside hospital. The residents in the homes more often engaged in simple constructive activities. Although stereotypies were as common in the homes as the hospitals, in the former they were more likely to be combined with constructive pursuits. There were no differences between the groups in self-help skills. In the homes, the staff: resident ratios were higher and the staff had more autonomy in management and responsibility for organising their own services. The care practices in the homes were more resident-centred, and social contacts between staff and residents were more frequent. However, there was no evidence that, for this type of resident, placing a small home in a residential street had advantages over other geographical locations.

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