Group Homes in Sweden

By Kerstin Sellin and Magnus Andén

In Sweden we have personal assistance. Sympathetic enough, the law makes no difference whether you have intellectual disabilities or mobility impairments, or if you can supervise your assistants or not.

It’s your need for support and service that determines whether to grant assistance. Unlike in many subsequent countries the legislatures of Sweden made the only distinction that personal assistance should be reserved for those with the greatest needs.

The members in JAG react to the fact that people with intellectual disabilities – although they can get personal assistance – often are assumed to live in small institutions, known as group homes.

Magnus Andén, chairman in JAG, is living in his own apartment with personal assistance. Several years ago he tried to live in a group home – an experience he almost didn’t survive. This is Magnus commentary about group homes:

“Sometimes you meet worried parents who think their adult children will be alone and vulnerable in ordinary housing. They think that if there is a manager on site and some other persons with disabilities to be together with during the evenings, a secure community will arise.

They should know how lonely and vulnerable you become in a group home. When one's will not count and one's interests is seen as unnecessary luxuries and you are reduced to nothing but a difficult task

for the staff. When your needs always is weighed against the other 'residents' needs, and the staff's needs.

They should know how much is being said over the heads of us who cannot gossip. And they should know how fair such a personnel group is against each other, when any of them is criticized.

If I had no disability at all, maybe it would be possible to live in a group home. Then I could argue my case, and I would be free to come and go as I want. And I could adapt myself if it was needed. But the more support and services you need, the more prisoner you become in a group home.

For someone with my extensive functional limitations and poor adaptability it’s immediately life threatening.”

Vir: http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102890109106-264/Group+Homes+in+Sweden.pdf