A further appraisal of forster family care

Conclusions

• 1. For the welfare of the patient the foster-family care project should be continued and expanded when funds are available. The plan of the department to make this a separate budget item seems to have many practical advantages.

• 2. A definite technique has been established which includes: viewing each case as an individual one, careful selection of patient and home, conscientious case work and constant cooperation among all concerned.

• 3. Even if one is to overlook the consequential though intangible benefits to the patient, hospital staff, the caretaker and the State, the economic factors are important. In this small local project, which involved a total of only 182 patients over a period of less than four years, a conservative estimate of the saving to the State amounts to $36,188.75, computed in the usual way.