Hospital to community: a pilot rehabilitation project for elderly mentally retarded

Four mentally handicapped patients, three of whom were aged 75 years plus, with a mean age of 67 years (in 1981) and a total institutional life of 160 years, have been successfully rehabilitated in a group home in an active community community environment since August 1981. The process of preparing them for independent living, the social services and community nursing support need, the qualitative change in their life style are described. The success is defined as a fuller community integrated living, free of institutional rigidity and freedom to do what they like with some support and using all the community services as used by other people.