Deinstitutionalization is explained as the practice of moving people with developmental disabilities and mental disorders from mental facilities to the communities and family based environments. Deinstitutionalization of people with developmental disabilities was established as a cost saving technique and as a proper alternative to state hospitals as long as the deinstitutionalized patients were capable of taking their medications and also serviced in the community health facilities.
Patients who were previously institutionalized complained of poor living conditions as well as poor treatment and therefore this practice aimed at providing better treatment to people with developmental disabilities. However, deinstitutionalization of people with disabilities has led widespread homelessness due to the fact that patients who were previously institutionalized are not capable of finding a well paying job and earning sufficient income to maintain their own housing. The institutionalization of people with disabilities is a way of discrimination used by the society against people with disabilities.In the 1960s, a debate concerning the care options for the disabled including deinstitutionalization of these people who are capable of integrating in the community. (Braddock, 102).
The states were therefore required to develop more flexible service delivery system to serve people with developmental disabilities in the communities. During the 1970s, legal professionals sought to improve the available care options for people with disabilities by advocating for elimination of the unnecessary institutionalization of people with developmental disabilities who are able to live in their own communities.These experts argued that most institutionalized people are capable of living in their own communities if they had proper services such as therapy, strict supervision and 24 hour medical care. Deinstitutionalization involves the discharge of patients from health facilities and reduction in admissions into mental health facilities. Home and community based services have become the standard in care giving for people with developmental disabilities. (Johnson, 75).
However, deinstitutionalization of people with disabilities has faced many challenges among which include the family’s inability to understand the new changes. Most families do not believe that community placement is good for their family member. The quality of care provided to the patients depends on the quality of life of the person providing the care and the wages of those providing care. People who move from health residential institutions to community settings have reported having experiences that have helped them improve their adaptive behavior skills.
These individuals who leave institutions participate in more social activities, experience personal integration and have more family contacts. Experts have argued that it is not proper to isolate people in institutions even when various research studies have proved that people with developmental disabilities can be adequately supported in the community. They have also argued that it is not proper to deny other people the right to live in the community where proper services and supports can be provided.Deinstitutionalization of people with developmental disabilities to the community should not be performed as a cost saving measure but as an issue of human and civil rights. (Braddock, 84).
Hissom memorial center in sand springs began a deinstitutionalization program in 1990 and finally closed in 1994. Research proved that people who were moved from Hissom memorial center to the community were better off. They experienced increased skills, had a greater family contact, received more services and they were more integrated with the general community. (Odom, 78).
