[Psychiatric patients in private care. Historical analysis from a municipality in western Norway]

Radøy, an island (4,500 inhabitants) in Western Norway, has traditionally accepted many psychiatric patients for care in foster homes. Since the end of the 19th century, 855 patients placed in foster homes have been registered. Only 7% of these were original inhabitants of Radøy. The mean duration of stay was 13 years (median: 9). The tendency has been towards longer periods of stay, older patients, an increasing number of female patients, and more schizophrenic patients. It takes on average nine months (median: 5) after cancellation of the foster contract before the patient receives alternative accommodation. The waiting period for a place in a nursing home is especially long. This problem must be solved if care in a foster home is to be a suitable alternative in the future.