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Planning for the Future in the Copenhagen Region

Some planning trends were discussed earlier in the section on "Current Implementation of the Act." In the Copenhagen region, we plan to add a series of modern residential facilities which embody our latest thinking in this field. Our experience has shown that approximately two per thousand of the total population are in need of a residential place in a service system. Thus, the following additional facilities are being planned for Region I.

1. A residential center in Copenhagen, approximately 2.5 miles from the middle of town, for about 300 moderately to mildly retarded adult men and women. Half of these residents will require no special assistance and can live in their own rooms, each with a small entrance hall, washbasin, and built-in cupboard. The other half will have physical handicaps requiring other types of dwellings. Beyond dwelling units for residents and staff members, this facility will have a heating plant, an administration building, a kitchen building, store building, shops, workshops, wards for patients with acute illness, wards for somatic observation and examination, a building for physiotherapy, living units for educational activities, assembly hall, canteen, and a church.

2. Other types of modern buildings are planned to relieve Lillemosegard, which has to struggle with overcrowded living units and long waiting lists, as do many of the Danish institutions for the retarded. Thus, we are planning a hostel at Valdermarsalle near Lillemosegard), with dwellings for approximately 50 mentally retarded men and women who work in external workshops. Each home consists of 10 single rooms in each of the two-story buildings; living rooms, dining rooms, and hobby rooms are placed in separate adjacent one-story buildings.

Finally, we should mention the recently erected John F. Kennedy institute for approximately 15 children below age 7 who suffer from phenylketonuria, or the "Folling-disease." Besides being a home for these children, the Institute is a research center for the scientific study of phenylketonuria.

In Denmark, the tradition has been to consider the care of the retarded and the support of their families more important than research. However, the wish for better understanding of the different conditions, their etiology and development, has become more and more urgent. The equipment and resources of the Children's Hospital offer the opportunity of intensive research, and the Danish Society for the Scientific Study of Oligophrenia and other scientific societies lave greatly contributed during the years to research.

Appendix 1

THE ACT NO. 192 OF JUNE 5,1959. The Act concerning the Care of the Mentally Retarded and other exceptionally Retarded Persons.

Chapter I .
Section 1.

The Danish National Service for the Mentally Retarded and other exceptionally retarded persons is carried out by a semi-independent organization under the leadership of the Minister of Social Affairs.

Subsection 2.

As laid down in Section 67 of the Act of Public Welfare, the organization is to be approved and to be under the board of directors, acting in concert with the regional centres mentioned in Section 3. The board of directors consists of 8 members, appointed by the Minister of Social Affairs, and a chairman, the Director of the Service, who is appointed by the King. One of the members, who must be an expert in the field of psychiatry, and who must not be employed by the Service, is appointed on the recommendation of the National Health Service. One member, who must be pedagogically trained is appointed after negotiations with the Minister of Education.

One member is appointed on recommendation by a country-wide Association of Parents and other relatives of mentally retarded persons, this association being authorized by the Minister of Social Affairs. The remaining 5 members are to be appointed among persons, who must be expected to have insight in and interest for the Service, so that the choice is made in a way which to the greatest possible amount secures an even representation from various parts of the country. The members who are appointed for 4 years -- a period that corresponds to the electoral period for local councils -- receive a salary which is to be fixed by the Minister of Social Affairs.

Subsection 3.

Pursuant to negotiations with the Minister of Housing, the Minister of Social Affairs may appoint an expert to assist the board of directors in the administration of matters concerning house-building and landscape-planning.

Section 2.

In accordance with the rules laid down by the Minister of Social Affairs it is the duty of the board of directors to administer this law, to watch the development within this field, and to advance to the Minister of Social Affairs proposals as to measures which the development may require.

Section 3.

The Minister of Social Affairs takes care of the establishment of the local regional centres for treatment, and the existence of institutions and other means which are needed to attain the target for the programme.