Abstract
North American research tends to show that the families of people with developmental disabilities oppose deinstitutionalization, but that they change their minds after resettlement has taken place. This paper presents a study of family attitudes to similar service changes in a political and social context rather different from North America: A Scandinavian Welfare State. It is based on Norwegian data on family attitudes and on resident living conditions before and after facility closures. The U.S. pattern of initial opposition and “after the fact” support is largely replicated. Family attitudes and attitudinal changes are related to characteristics of the resident, the respondent (relative), the old services, and the new services; none of which appear to be good predictors of family attitudes. Family participation in the resettlement process is briefly described and related to attitudes. Results are discussed in relation to problems of democracy/paternalism and families' general readiness to prefer current services.
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Tossebro, J. Family Attitudes to Deinstitutionalization Before and After Resettlement: The Case of a Scandinavian Welfare State. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities 10, 55–72 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022861517692
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022861517692