Difference Between De-Institutionalisation And Social Care

Social care is an essential fragment of welfare in contemporary Britain. Currently, the disabled and the elderly have a say in regards to their care and can choose the best method of care that suits their lifestyle and individual needs. However, provision of care was not always so versatile; for much of the twentieth century, long term care of any nature remained the responsibility of state run institutions. The service user; as they are referred to as today, had all their rights forfeited, their identity lost and had no input regarding their care plan; on many occasions they were forcefully institutionalised. Therefore, this essay sets out to answer the following questions - What is meant by the term “institutionalisation” and secondly,

In 1959, the Government passed the Mental Health Act, the Act aimed to reduce the reliance on long stay institutions, sparking the beginning of de-institutionalisation and community care (Blakemore & Warwick-Booth, 2013). Bauduin (2001) defines de-institutionalisation as the “reform process of mental health care, which involves moving patients from larger scale psychiatric institutions towards the community” (p.12). The focus on de-institutionalisation moved away from institutional care and concentrated more on integrating patients or residents into society, in the form of community care schemes. Furthermore, community care was predestined to be financially beneficial to the state, noting that it would be a cheaper method of providing care (Blakemore & Warwick-Booth, 2013). Bauduin (2001) explains that the objective of community care is to give people who are either physically or mentally disabled the opportunity to feel part of society. Alcock, Erskine & May, (1998) also credits the notion that “Care should not take place in institutions, whenever possible care should be encouraged in people’s own homes. Support should be family and community based” (p.310). One of the main issues that burdened institutions was the growing number of elderly patients; therefore, the government implemented the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968. This Act required local authorities to provide services such as home help, residential care, day centres and community hospitals for the elderly and the mentally ill (Blakemore & Warwick-Booth, 2013). Subsequently, the National Health Service Act 1977 prioritised homecare services, making them compulsory for those that wanted to stay in their own home. However, Tinker (1981) highlights the fact that the Government was not forthcoming with funds; consequently, local authorities could not afford to meet all of their objectives