Private lives in public places: a research-based critique of residential life in local authority old people's homes

Is there a future for old people's homes? Is it possible to maintain a sense of independence and individuality whilst living within a close community? these are the types of questions that this book sets out to examine in depth. In this book the authors present a research-based critique of institutional living that draws on evidence from one hundred public sector homes. It is the outcome of a massive survey set up to examine design and accommodation requirements, describe existing physical and social environments, and look at ways in which these might be improved. The authors come up with some constructuve recommednations building on positive attributes of homes identified by the elderly clients themselves, they propose an alternative model - the 'residential flatlet'. This, by combining the advantages of a radical shift towards independent living in a residential setting with the security of support essential for a frail population, attempts to capture the essence of 'home'