Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that spans the life course and presents varying challenges for individuals in different life stages. As long-term psychiatric hospitalization options have been reduced throughout the Western world, and community-based services have not kept pace with demand, adults with schizophrenia have increasingly been admitted to nursing homes despite the fact that they are often considerably younger than other residents. This article explores the use of nursing homes as chronic mental health facilities and the role that social workers can play in improving the quality of life of residents suffering from schizophrenia.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Betty Gillard, RPN, and Stephen Willoughby, MSW, for their contributions.