The changing hopes, worries, and community supports of individuals moving from a closing long-term care facility

This study examines client's hopes, worries, and social networks before, on e year and two years following release from a long-term care facility. More clients expressed hopes than worries before closure but, over time, hopes decreased and worries increased significantly. Before closing, independence was cited most often as a hope, followed by work and finances. Criminal op portunities headed up concerns, followed by mental health treatment finance s, living arrangements and independence. Over time, respondents were less e xcited about independence and living arrangements but more hopeful about so cial opportunities and everyday practicalities. Worries relating to family increased while concerns about deviance decreased Respondents reported an a verage increase in network ties bat the proportion of family members decrea sed while professional supports and ties with former CSH patients increased . The trends highlight particular vulnerability at the one-year point, the necessity of viewing movement into the community as a nonlinear process, an d the importance of marking outcomes periodically.