ABSTRACT

It is extremely difficult to generalise about the effect of these three main sets of factors across Europe, as far as psychologists' involvement in community care is concerned. As Hassel (1983) points out, even within an individual country, such as West Germany, the different states are relatively autonomous in their health systems. This introduction to the subsequent sections, dealing with community care of the mentally handicapped, the chronically psychiatrically ill, the physically disabled, and the elderly, can thus only provide a loose framework within which to place those sections.