The deinstitutionalization of St. Nicholas Hospital: II lifestyle, community contact and family attitudes

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Abstract
This is the second of two papers describing the outcome of deinstitutionalizing St. Nicholas Hospital for children and young adults with severe intellectual and physical disabilities. This paper describes changes to the residents' normal life routines and social activities, including level of contact with family and the community, following their relocation to small group homes known as Community Residential Units (CRUs). In general, relocation resulted in the residents experiencing a more varied life-routine, a more extensive range of social activities as well as somewhat greater contact with their families and the general community. Attitudes of the residents' parents to the CRU were mainly positive, more so after the relocation. Against this, parents felt insufficently consulted prior to the move and their involvement in the CRUs remained low. It is concluded that residents' lifestyle became less restricted in CRUs and that their parents generally support the project.

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