[evildouble102]

I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on what a group home for the mentally ill is like. My primary care physician said if I could find the right one that it might be beneficial.
Thanks.

a group home fosters independence for those who can handle it. your doc thought you could, i'm sure. there is a "residential guidance specialist" that lives in with the residents. everyone has chores, cooking, cleaning, laundry and such. some members have jobs and are taken to work by a caretaker. that's how they operate here. these are very nice and all seem to be working out well for the residents. you would also probably have a case worker that would check on your welfare periodically.

[____wasteland]

it depends for what age group. but if you've ever been to a psychiatric ward, you notice how there's staff & everything around a lot & you can't have shoelaces or cd's or anything you can harm yourself with. well, at a group home, it's like there's a staff that either lives there with a few adults or adolescents depending & takes care of you, like makes sure you wake up & get out of bed & locks up meds so no one hurts themselves & prepares food & everything.
most grouptake turns & do 8 hour shifts & then change.
you usually get your own room if its small & you can have belts & your shoes & radio & everything. its jsut a place so people can help you function & there will be therapy usually, unless its just a home, then someone will help you get to outside therapy & youll talk about your day with the people you live with.
if you need it, you definitely should. it's a good experience & break if you are having a hard time functioning, you know?
i've been in a few & i didn't have a bad time in any of them. the only bad part i thought was when insurance stops paying. but if you have good insurance, then dont worry about that. just worry about getting a good group home & getting a long term place if thats what you need.
the people there are really kind & they all are at the point that they don't need a hospital & they are stable enough to not seriously hurt themselves or others, so it's usually quiet, you know?
find out places, or research places in your area & find the best one for you.
good luck<3.
--julie.

[DawnS]

Hi,

Well here, they live in a house or an apartment, share rent and such with roommates that also have mental illness. They have someone come to assist them either 24/7 or as needed to help with daily living needs and medication. Goal is to keep the person safe, taking their medication on time, not missing their medical appointments, if they have a job - being on time to their job, but allowing each person to be as independent as possible without harm to themselves or others.

I hope this helps some. I was a case manager and worked in a group home (MR) before my mental illness became so bad that I couldn't work anymore.

[(JD)]

Welcome again evildouble. Here is a link that might give you some information: http://www.mentalhealth.org/publicat...48/default.asp I think the aims of group homes for adults vs for teens are different. One of the main things for adults is to prevent homelessness...

TC let us know what you find out.

all the above posts give good descriptions of group homes......if you would like any more info..please send me a message........i was a residential manager of some group homes for a few years.....

[evildouble102]

Thanks to all who responded.

[eskielover]

I have had many acquantances that have lived in group homes....there are good ones &amp; bad ones...I have seen both. Several had street drug problems...not that I was involved with but knew of. Some were just plain great homes to live in. I was in the hospital with the people that lived in them I then outpatient with others. Most didn't work because of their illnesses. I even looked into one when I didn't want to go home to my husband. Later I took in two people that were living in a group home that wasn't working for them. Yes, they protect you from OD'ing on your meds...locked up &amp; given on your prescribed schedule...shared house duties &amp; shopping for food &amp; stuff. They are good if you have no place to go when you need help to get on with life.

Hope you can locate a good place for you &amp; end up with people you can be with easily.

Debbie