The QOL of Mentally Handicapped in Group Homes : Comparison between Japan and Sweden

DOI

Abstract

This research is a comparative study of the living conditions of mentally handicapped people living in group homes of urban in Japan and Sweden. We specified and examined not only the facilities of such group homes, but also the daily and social activities of the mentally handicapped, their relationships with their families and the community, what they expect of the future and so on. Our subjects were 22 mentally handicapped adults in Nishinomiya, Japan and 23 mentally handicapped adults in Linkoping, Sweden. We found results which make clear the current situation of group homes both in Japan and Sweden. It was revealed that Japan is still comparatively underdeveloped with regard to the standard of facilities of group homes. Japan also has problems with respecting privacy and in the ways in which leisure time of patients is spent. In many ways, group homes in Sweden have better conditions than those in Japan. But, Swedish homes, too, have problems concerning integration. For example, most leisure activities in Sweden are organized mainly by the handicapped themselves, and there are very few activities in which non-handicapped people participate. Until the mentally handicapped earn true citizenship and are able to live inclusive lives within the community, action to enlighten non-handicapped citizens is strongly needed both in Japan and in Sweden. Differences between the Japan-type and the Sweden-type community service structure are made clear through this survey.

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Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

  • CRID
    1390564238085887488
  • NII Article ID
    110009357127
  • DOI
    10.24469/jjswe.2.0_21
  • ISSN
    24331570
    13433407
  • Text Lang
    en
  • Data Source
    • JaLC
    • CiNii Articles
  • Abstract License Flag
    Disallowed

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