Abstract
To describe 5-year changes in the provision of Residential Facilities (RFs) in a large Italian Region and in the characteristics
of their staffing and patients. 2000 census data of all RFs with >4 residential beds in the Emilia-Romagna Region were compared
with 2005 census data. The number of residential beds increased from 3.1 per 10,000 inhabitants in 2000 to 4.1 per 10,000
inhabitants in 2005. The RFs operated by private non-profit associations increased at a greater rate than the number of NHS-operated
facilities, and the percentage of non-qualified staff has also risen at a greater rate than that observed for qualified staff.
The number of individuals with comorbid substance abuse increased from 2.1% in 2000 to 5.7% in 2005. Patient turnover rates
were low in both 5-year periods. A process of new institutionalization might be taking place. Mental health care policy-makers
should take these findings into account to enhance the planning of effective services, including RFs granting a satisfactory
quality of life to patients with severe disorders requiring long-term, eventually unlimited care.
of their staffing and patients. 2000 census data of all RFs with >4 residential beds in the Emilia-Romagna Region were compared
with 2005 census data. The number of residential beds increased from 3.1 per 10,000 inhabitants in 2000 to 4.1 per 10,000
inhabitants in 2005. The RFs operated by private non-profit associations increased at a greater rate than the number of NHS-operated
facilities, and the percentage of non-qualified staff has also risen at a greater rate than that observed for qualified staff.
The number of individuals with comorbid substance abuse increased from 2.1% in 2000 to 5.7% in 2005. Patient turnover rates
were low in both 5-year periods. A process of new institutionalization might be taking place. Mental health care policy-makers
should take these findings into account to enhance the planning of effective services, including RFs granting a satisfactory
quality of life to patients with severe disorders requiring long-term, eventually unlimited care.
- Content Type Journal Article
- DOI 10.1007/s10597-010-9355-8
- Authors
- Giovanni Neri, Department of Mental Health, Azienda USL di Modena, via Emilia Ovest, 438/a, 41100 Modena, Italy
- Francesca Guzzetta, Department of Mental Health, Azienda USL di Bologna, via Benni n.4, 40054 Budrio, Bo Italy
- Linda Pazzi, Service for Mental Health Services and Health Care in Prisons, Emilia-Romagna Region, Viale Aldo Moro 21, 40127 Bologna, Italy
- Rossella Bignami, Service for Mental Health Services and Health Care in Prisons, Emilia-Romagna Region, Viale Aldo Moro 21, 40127 Bologna, Italy
- Angelo Picardi, Centre of Epidemiology Surveillance and Health Promotion, National Institute of Health, Mental Health Unit, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Giovanni de Girolamo, IRCCS Centro S. Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli, via Pilastroni 4, 20125 Brescia, Italy
- Journal Community Mental Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-2789
- Print ISSN 0010-3853