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In 1981 this facility opened a new program to mainstream the mentally ill, ages 21-50. At this point, the patients were used to being locked in their rooms and didn't know how to accept their new environment; which included actual bedrooms, entertainment, transportation, and all other aspects that had never been introduced to them before. Five of the residents refused to go in their new home at first. Slowly they entered the new atmosphere beginning with sitting in the hallway for a while or coming in the front door and standing against the wall until they were comfortable enough to move. Eventually they all successfully made there way in. .
Residents of this particular program are doing very well. They are able to visit the grocery stores and are even able to take field trips to wherever they want to go. Patients are even allowed to visit their own family doctors. Other privileges include a dateline, where people with mental disabilities can call and meet people with the same or different disabilities, living alone in an apartment that's supervised so many hours a day, they are able to work part time jobs, and weight watchers supports them if they want to lose weight. It has taken 20 years for such luxuries to arise in this field. .
It was very easy to institutionalize anyone. If a child was thought of as shamed, they would be sent away. 85 years ago, a girl became promiscuous and her parents didn't know what to do with her, so they put her in an institution. There was nothing mentally wrong with her therefore; she didn't belong. She began to help the staff because there really was no reason for her to be there. This mistreated women lost all contact with her family and just a few years ago found out she had a sister. Most of the residents don't have any family and the residents that do, the family doesn't really bother with them. This problem occurs especially with the older patients.
