Housing and nutrition of psychiatric aftercare patients

Significant demographic and clinical differences between patients in 4 types of living arrangement are noted. Physical health and number of psychiatric admissions in the past 2 yr were most interesting in that patients living alone fared worst in both. Pateints living alone also had the poorest housing as rated by research assistants and the least degree of satisfaction with their housing. Ratings of housing and satisfaction for patients in group homes were better than those for the patients living alone and comparable in some cases to patients living with families, who had the best in housing. On the other hand, group homes provided the least amount of autonomy and private living space. Despite poorer facilities for preparation of food, patients living alone were roughly equal to patients living with families and responsible for food preparation in regard to frequency of cooking, availability of food, and infrequency of dining outside the home, although patients living alone spent twice as much per person for food.