The living conditions of psychiatric patients discharged from half-way houses in Hong Kong.

Abstract

This paper reports on a study of the living environment of 64 psychiatric patients discharged from half-way houses in Hong Kong. The majority were living in a deprived situation compared to that of their neighbours. They were leading a very monotonous life throughout the year; the walls of their homes were dirty and very plain; and some even ate scraps from a neighbouring bakery. Many did not have any social life at all, and their hobbies were smoking, watching television and gambling. Their neighbours, by comparison, had hobbies such as floriculture, birds and goldfish; decorated their walls with pictures and had newspapers and periodicals in their houses; more often had telephone facilities, wardrobes and sofas; used town gas rather than kerosene stoves; and were more likely to have electrical appliances, especially an iron, refrigerator and shaver. Judged by their income from employment or from public assistance, the 'quality of life' (QOL) of these patients should not have been in such a desperate state. They lacked guidance and instruction in their management of money, and the care of their homes. It is proposed that an aftercare worker might improve the QOL of these discharged psychiatric patients.