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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.

It was the establishing of associations of parents and friends of mentally handicapped persons that started, above all in the 50's and 60's, in many countries direct and intensive endeavours for the improvement of their social situation. In this context the major goals are the normalisation of their living conditions and the realisation of the human rights due to them as well. Since that time the overall program drawn up by the National Society for the Mentally Handicapped LEBENSHILFE in 1959 set the standards for the work with mentally handicapped persons of all ages. The earliest possible beginning of longterm developmental training, including social training goals, underlies the social integration of mentally handicapped people. In adult life special aids and services must be offered in the fields of working, living and recreation. The participation of handicapped people themselves is a significant prerequisite for achieving an optimal degree of independence. In this context the role of the parents is of special importance as well. Trends towards bureaucratization and onesided professionalization in the work for the handicapped endanger all endeavours for integration. But the attitude of the society towards their handicapped citizens is decisive, too. Direct contact with handicapped persons can reduce prejudices and uncertainties, and open ways to their integration into society.

We report on the establishment and organization of a residential home, located in a small, fairly industrialized community without institutional background (nearest psychiatric treatment facilities more than 100 km away). Following a description of the structure of the populace, a report on the difficulties encountered in the attempt to integrate the inmates of the communal house into the local social frame, is provided. It is shown that a two year period was needed, before adequate communication between local population and home residents could be established and a satisfactory relationship realized. After a detailed account covering the rehabilitation methods employed, the special problems connected with legal and social re-integration are discussed (i.e.: transportation facilities to and from the communal home and the pace of employment). We conclude our review by a report on the results obtained and attempt to provide a number of suitable suggestions on possible improvements, for discussion and comment.

Living conditions have a major impact on the course of illness and treatment in psychiatric patients. Sheltered living and sheltered work are indispensable complements to therapy, if they meet the patients needs. A network of multiple and different facilities, as realized in the region of Zurich, seems best to answer the individual problems of the patients. Experiences regarding staff, the selection of patients, problems of dysfunctional developments and possible counterbalances are discussed. The latest trends regard close cooperation with patients' families, preference for small units and care for flexibility of institutions.

The article describes some of the prerequisites necessary for deciding whether a psychiatric patient can be returned to his family after inpatient treatment or whether further rehabilitation is preferably promoted via a transitional hostel. The (partly subconscious and not verbally expressed) conflicts, interests, desires and expectations of the persons involved are also discussed. In a regionalized care system developed on a sociopsychiatric basis, the dynamic aspects of solving a problem unfold within the triangle: Patient--Relatives--Therapeutic team. This network should be maintained even if the decision is in favour of a transitional hostel, and should be developed further particularly if the transitional function of the hostel is expected to produce a rehabilitative effect.