Pros & Cons of Group Homes for Adults With Disabilities
- Group homes lessen the burden on families. Taking care of a disabled adult can be very expensive. A survey by the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company in 2010 found that nearly half the parents caring for disabled children said the cost of doing so had harmed their ability to save for their child's education. Further, taking care of a disabled adult full time can be very emotionally draining, particularly for aging parents and siblings who have children and work full time.
Group homes provide professional care for disabled adults in a facility close to where their family lives. It is the best of both worlds and takes a huge financial burden and stress off the family who are not trained to deal with the many complications that a disability brings. - Particularly for patients with mental disabilities, group homes can save costs on hospital visits and special housing assistance. A survey by the Tennessee Government conducted a study of 150 mentally disabled people. They found that before they joined group homes, 154 were regularly admitted to hospitals. After they entered the homes, only 10 required hospitalization. Thus the state and the tax payers are saving money.
- Communities often stand against group homes, particularly in affluent suburbs. Some people have a negative view of the disabled, particularly the mentally disabled, and all too often there is an attitude of "not in my neighborhood." This does not fall easily into a pro or con but rather shows a backward view which stems from ignorance. Until people become educated on disabilities and no longer fear the disabled living in their community, group homes will continue to struggle for funding and locations.
- Group homes may help disabled people but they could also be isolating them from the world outside, and from non-disabled people. Integration into society is a key factor for many disabled people to find happiness and confidence. Group homes are essentially taking the disabled away from those opportunities. In turn, being looked after 24 hours a day is not suitable for all disabled people and some may resent this. Ideally, each individual will be assessed on his disability before being put into a group home.
