THE LEROS-PIKPA-ASYLUM - DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION AND REHABILITATION PROJECT

A three-year deinstitutionalisation and rehabilitation pilot intervent ion project was implemented at Leros PIKPA for people with severe lear ning disabilities. initial conditions at the asylum were appalling. Re sidents suffered severe deprivation, extreme institutionalisation, and violation of basic human rights. Intervention involved professionals from different disciplines, and involved residents, their families, ca re staff, the institution, and the local community. As a result, resid ent care and adaptive behaviour has started to improve. Communication between residents and families has increased. Owing to training and se nsitisation, care staff's poor resident-management practices and negat ive attitudes toward disabled people have changed. Living and hygienic conditions have been upgraded and building renovation is under way. A sylum administration and the local community have been sensitised to r esidents' needs. Eleven residents have moved to the project's pilot co mmunity home in Athens; two others now live with foster families. The results suggest that deinstitutionalisation and rehabilitation can be successfully initiated even in residential institutions of the severes t kind.