Abstract
The Community Living Skills Course described in this paper was established as a means of broadening the scope of the rehabilitation programme offered to pre-discharge psychiatric patients, with the aim of more adequately preparing them for life outside hospital. The course sought to teach specific practical skills and to provide information about community services and resources.
After the course had been in operation for two years, an attempt was made to validate the content of the course by evaluating its relevance to patients already living in the community. Accordingly, structured interviews of 26 day care patients were conducted. The data obtained was used to modify and improve the existing course so that it would better meet patients needs. At the same time, an initial assessment of the training needs of long-term patients living in the community was made, and a need for continuing support and assistance with practical problems emerged.
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