Daily living group: focus on transition from hospital to community

A group (Daily Living Group) that prepares patients for discharge from a psychiatric hospital was formulated to provide patients with information on activities essential for their integration into the outside community. The information included the use of support systems in the hospital setting to aid in bridging the gap between hospital and community, as well as emphasis on the patients' leisure interests, community resources, and environment outside the hospital. The group then gave the patients the opportunity to apply what they learned, that is, practical experience in working through their problems. Patients with an investment in making behavioral changes responded well, but those with no investment lowered the morale of the group when coerced into attending.