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Physically handicapped children in long-stay hospitals
Insights
Many multiply handicapped children in long-stay hospitals need better care. Community-based residential provisions could improve their well-being and meet their needs more effectively.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Disabilities
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Over 6,500 multiply handicapped children reside in long-stay hospitals.
- These institutions often face resource shortages, including therapy and nursing staff.
- Current care may not adequately address the emotional and mothering needs of institutionalized children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the care provided to multiply handicapped children in mental handicap hospitals.
- To identify deficiencies in institutional care and explore alternative accommodation models.
Main Methods:
- A 2-year study involving 223 multiply handicapped children across eight mental handicap hospitals.
- Data collection focused on the children's care experiences and institutional resources.
Main Results:
- Significant shortages in essential staff (therapy, nursing) were identified in long-stay hospitals.
- Children in hospitals are at risk of emotional distress due to inadequate staffing and understanding of their needs.
- Community-based residential care is proposed as a viable alternative if local authorities provide adequate resources.
Conclusions:
- Long-stay hospitals are not optimally meeting the needs of multiply handicapped children.
- Relocation to community-based residential facilities is recommended.
- Adequate residential provision by local authorities is crucial for improving child welfare.
Abstract:
Six thousand five hundred handicapped children live permanently in long-stay hospitals, where their needs may not be met because of lack of resources within the hospital, eg. there is a shortage of therapy staff in long-stay hospitals. These children could be accommodated in the community if local authorities were prepared to make adequate residential provision for them. The children are likely to suffer emotional distress in hospital, because there is a grave shortage of nursing staff and very little understanding about the mothering needs of children in institutions. This paper is based on some of the findings of a 2-year study into the care of 223 multiply handicapped children in eight mental handicap hospitals. The study was financed by the Spastics Society, and undertaken from the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the University of London Institute of Education.