The closure of a mental hospital in Sweden: Characteristics of patients in long-term care facing relocation into the community

Abstract

A political decision to decentralize psychiatric care in a county of Sweden was made in October 1984, leading to the closure of the only large mental hospital in the area (290,000 inhabitants). The hospital is of the traditional type, with 490 beds and 1,294 staff members. It has units for long-term care, short-term care and rehabilitation and a unit for research and education. The long-term care is to cease completely and be replaced by community-based alternative types of care. In this study, the long-term population (n = 199) was characterized and their levels of functioning were measured. The results showed that 91% of the patients were 65 years old or more and that more than half of them were organically demented. Only 20% were chronic schizophrenics. All patients were cognitively impaired and 80% were also impaired in ADL functioning. A correlation between length of stay in hospital and ADL functioning was found in the organically demented group, but not in the group of chronic psychiatrically ill patients. Thirty-nine per cent of the population were severely impaired in ADL functioning and needed nursing care around the clock; 34% were moderately impaired and needed help and support that could be given in alternative types of care; 27% were not impaired at all to mildly impaired and could be relocated to some type of service apartment. Thus, all patients needed sheltered living arrangements and care provided by staff with adequate training.