How to Find Housing for a Schizophrenic

Taking care of your loved one at home may not be in his best interest. The most important thing for a schizophrenic is to stay on medication. When you and your spouse work full-time jobs and your loved one isn't, you may have trouble getting him to take his medicine if he doesn't feel he needs it. Here's how to find housing for a schizophrenic.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Evaluate the schizophrenic's functioning level and openness to treatment. Finding a place for her at home is still the best option, but she must have something to do during the day, like a part-time job or volunteer work. She should also be willing to take advantage of resources there to help her.
2. Tap into social service organizations in your area and ask about supervised housing. This could be a shared apartment or house where case managers visit periodically and provide support.
3. Ask about foster families who've been trained to deal with the mentally ill. This can give your relative greater stability and access to a world outside of case managers and other ill patients.
4. Look for a boarding house if she feels more comfortable around other people. She may get her own room or share with someone else. There are people on site to help in times of need but they're not mental health professionals.
5. Examine group home options in your area. Typically these house only patients and professionals are present around the clock. A halfway house is particularly suitable for a schizophrenic who suffers from addiction issues as well as mental illness.
6. Check into clubhouse arrangements for a more permanent situation. These involve group living where residents take care of tasks like domestic duties and supporting other patients. A clubhouse also encourages independence through continuing education, job training and volunteer activities in the community.
7. Turn to residential treatment facilities or nursing homes only as a last resort. They provide a full staff of professionals. Such housing is appropriate for the elderly or severely ill who need constant monitoring and training to perform activities of daily living.

Tips & Warnings

• Your local National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) office may know of local schizophrenic housing resources.