Lennox Castle closed, along with many other long-stay institutions for people with learning disabilities. However, some residential units and village communities continue to exist, run by the NHS, private sector and voluntary organisations. People who own or manage these units, and the parents and friends of people who live there, have strong views about what such organisations have to offer. However, organisations of people with learning disabilities are highly critical of this form of provision.
You?ll have an opportunity to consider the pros and cons of residential living and to join in the debate after looking at some of the arguments put by both sides and to consider the question:
Have a look at Appendix 6, ‘Residential care ? the debate continues?, and read through the documents you find there. Under two headings, ‘Pros? and ‘Cons?, write down what you see as the arguments for and against, with information about the source next to it. You may have your own views; if so, add those too.
Pros
Interactive content appears here. Please visit the website to use it.Cons
Interactive content appears here. Please visit the website to use it.Pros | Cons |
Residential special schools protect parents and children from a hostile world and help to alleviate stress on families. The schools also provide a community for socially excluded children (Jackson in Community Care 20.02.02) | Residents have less choice, few rights, fewer things to do and fewer friends; staff values are more about control than independence, a hospital cannot be a home (Taylor Community Care 21.06.08) |
Enables choice in accommodation for people with learning disabilities (Rescare) | Village communities risk perpetuating institutional-type care (Mencap) |
Encourages mutual respect and equality (Camphill) | Deny rights to having a home of one?s own (Mencap) |
Segregate and exclude (BBC news website) | |
People with learning disabilities should have a right to live in ordinary houses in ordinary streets (Mencap) |
You might have wondered if all the quotes in the resource file were referring to the same type of accommodation. For those in favour, residential care for people with learning disabilities provides a haven of security and relief from socially induced stress; while for those against, it is a form of exclusion and a denial of rights to choice and being ‘ordinary?. Clearly there are strong opinions, not all of them voiced by people with learning disabilities. In the end you will want to make up your own mind, based on what you?ve heard and seen.
If you?ve still not made up your mind, you might find it helpful to hear from Margaret Scally. She was interviewed again by Howard Mitchell in 2007 to find out what life was like for her, after Lennox Castle.
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