Community placement and reintegration of service users from long-term mental health care facilities

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain community placement and reintegration of service users from long-term mental health care facilities.


Method: This study reviewed the progress during 2003 with the alternative placement of a selected candidate group of 27 service users in some of Lifecare's long-term mental health care facilities in Gauteng.


Results: Despite a significant amount of time and effort to find alternative options with family, old age homes or other non-governmental organizations, only 9 (33%) were placed a year later. A longer follow-up period however is necessary to ascertain the actual successful outcome of these placements.


Conclusions: Concerns exist about sufficient development of community-based services in accordance with the new Mental Health Care Act (Act No. 17 of 2002), parallel to hospital-based care.


Key words: Reintegration, Alternative placement, Long term mental health care, Policy, Legislation, Resources


South African Psychiatry Review Vol. 8 (3) 2005: 100-103