Deinstitutionalization

Anderson (2010) describes deinstitutionalisation as ... “the process of re-establishing people with intellectual disability in a community through community based services". Another way to describe it is the relocation of people that are supported by an organisation or service into another setting, where they have a greater opportunity to experience the same activities as others within that setting.

The deinstitutionalisation movement within New Zealand began in the late 1980s following the government policy to support the closure of long stay hospitals with the development of community services/resources and the understanding that disabled and ill people have equal rights (The shifting currents, 1986). Patients were encouraged to take part in their own treatment and recovery approach. The community at this time become more accepting of those people with an illness or disability and manageable patients were discharged into communities. These patients were treated under the umbrella term ‘community care’ in which organisations developed and provided alternatives to institutional care, they helped in changing the public’s attitudes and built international links (Brunton, 2011).

Deinstitutionalisation came about through individuals grasping an understanding of the negative effects institutional living was having on people. Blatt and Kaplan (1960) were influential in laying the foundations for deinstitutionalisation, as they pointed out that residents living in asylums lacked opportunities for the development of appropriate daily living and self-care skills. They also exposed the degradation people with mental retardation experienced within institutions. Society became more accepting an understanding that these people do belong within the community and have just as much right and choice as everyone else.

 Through these individuals transferring and living in the community there has been many reviews and literature towards supporting the positive outcomes this has created for them.  Emerson and Hatton (1996) reported the move into the community was associated with an increase in engagement in everyday and community-based activities, personal development and a reduction in “challenging behaviour”. It provided clients with social engagement, meaningful occupations to participate in and allowed them equality and choice. O’Brien et al. (2001) when reviewing the quality of life of individuals from New Zealand in the community stated “it to be significantly higher, on average, at the time of the interview than when in the institution” (p. 76).

 References

Blatt, B., & Kaplan, I. (1960). Christmas in purgatory. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Brunton, W. (2011). Mental health services - Lunatic asylums, 1840s to 1900s'. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved from http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/mental-health-services/2

Emerson, E. B., & Hatton, C. (1996a). Impact of deinstitutionalisation on service users in Britain. In J. Mansell & K. Ericsson (Eds.), Deinstitutionalization and community living: intellectual disability services in Britain, Scandinavia and the USA (pp. 169–184). London: Chapman.

 O’Brien, P., Thesing, A., Tuck, B., & Capie, A. (2001). Perceptions of change, advantage and quality of life for people with intellectual disability who left a long stay institution to live in the community. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 26(1), 67-82.

 The shifting currents: a commentary on current issues (1986). Mental Handicap in New Zealand, 11(1), 5–13.