Care homes for mental illness?

[SnackBitch2020]

Does anyone have any experience of a relative or friend going into a care home for mental illness? It's something that has been flagged to me (as a friend) but I wasn't aware that this could happen. Thanks!

Yes, respite in residential care until they are well enough to go home, x

Yes, there are a care homes for mental illness, I was working in one last week.
This particular one is home to 5 male residents with complex mental health issues. There were 2 members of staff - carers - who mostly did housework, cooked a main meal, gave them meds and made sure the meds were taken. It looked like a normal house but the smokers had to smoke in the garden not in the house. The residents were free to leave whenever they wanted and as long as they were back in the house by 11pm there were no issues.

Oh, it wasn't respite care, 3 of them have been there for more than 2 years.

Yes, but as an employee. There are some people who are resident for most of their lives. Generally rehabilitation is the goal. They can be small family home type set ups with only 5 or so residents or bigger units with recreation rooms, activities etc. Some are flats or studio flat set ups, others more like a room in a house share. They can offer a great stability for the residents. I’ve only had positive experiences of them.

I used to work in a mental health hospital and did a few months cover work in the 'sister' home, who had long term beds and crisis/respite rooms. Although one was legally a hospital, they were both more like a home than a hospital. Each resident had their own bedroom with en suite shower room. Plus lounges/kitchens to use.
Lovely places to work, and the residents seemed very happy too. (Most of them)

My dad was briefly in a EMI unit it wasn't based on age there were plenty of young people there

Thanks so much for your replies. That actually sounds really positive and has put my mind at ease regarding my friend. She had a severe manic episode earlier this year and residential care was one of the options discussed by her social worker (but they decided this wasn't needed). Thanks again, this is really good to know.