[Psychiatric family care--alternative management for long-term psychiatric patients]

It is unfortunate that mental patients with long-term hospitalisation patterns are still necessarily scheduled for long-term stay in mental hospitals and institutions designed for the care and treatment of psychiatric cases, since such institutions are characterised by a rather sterile, low-stimulation atmosphere underlining rather than relieving the severity of the disease. This article presents a possible alternative, namely, care of mental patients within the framework of a foster family; these patients had been hospitalised for a long time and are now living in families who are remunerated for their efforts and are given medical assistance in performing their task as hosts. The design of an empirical study is explained.