[Residences for mentally handicapped adults in an open environment]

The author describes the characteristic environment and afterwork leisure hours of a mentally handicapped woman residing in a hostel for mentally handicapped adults. Such hostels are described and presented as one of the possibilities of accommodating such individuals. These hostels are described as small-scale projects close to the original district in which the patients had grown up, the ultimate aim being the social integration of the inmates. The hostels in question were erected as homesteads for mentally handicapped adults who are mainly engaged in working in a sheltered workshop. The working principles are described, followed by an outline of the development of homesteads in the Federal Republic, listing the available capacities and future requirements. In addition, legal pointers are also given, besides a description of aspects of financing and constructional problems and of the tasks of residents and staff. From the description of a few essential structural and conceptional problems in this field, the article arrives at important demands to be made in future to both government and society. The article then points out the possibilities of continuing to set up suitable hostels for mentally handicapped adults in spite of strained financial budgets of the state and of the local communities. In the author's opinion, chances are offered by improving the cooperation between building societies and communities to ensure adequate housing in accordance with regional requirements.