STUDY ON GROUP HOME FOR MENTALLY RETARDED PERSONS : A case study on group home in two regions of Tokyo

Abstract

Since the conditions in which mentally retarded persons live in community are not yet sufficient in Japan, their livings are attended with much difficulties at present. Therefore, it seems urgently necessary to prepare many facilities with special roles which allow to support their social independence. This study focused on the roles and the problems of group homes for social independence and participation as a member of society of mentally retarded persons and a case study on group homes was made in two regions of Tokyo. In addition, a questionnaire survey on a group home was made with the residents to clarify the present status and its desirable conditions in future. This report describes the characteristics of group homes and the problems to improve them based on the data as to the time use patterns of the residents' daily living and the residential environments.