Life After Years in Hospital: What Does it Hold

This paper describes the process by which the Schizophrenia Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program in the Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital, Hamilton, Canada worked with a group of institutionalized, “long-stay” clients to help them move out of hospital (Mean length of stay = 13 years). Various innovative approaches are outlined. Follow-up of this group 2 years later included interviews with the Lehman Quality of Life interview and the Cantril ladder. Overall, it was found that the longer the clients lived in the community, the higher they rated their overall quality of life. As well, they viewed their quality of life in all domains as neutral to positive. A case example illustrating this process of change is included.