About Comcare
Comcare Trust began with the dream of two families in 1984. Today, we’re a fully-fledged non-profit organisation providing homes and rehabilitation services for adults with psychiatric disabilities.
For many families, discovering that their child has a psychiatric disorder can feel overwhelming, making each day an immense struggle. Graham Louw believed that a diagnosis was not the end of the road, nor the end of a life, but simply a different path to take. He dedicated his life to helping individuals and families affected by psychiatric disorders understand that a fulfilling life and happiness were still possible—and that people with psychiatric conditions just needed the opportunity to realise this.
Against the prevailing beliefs and advice of the time, Graham Louw, together with another family, purchased a home for adults with psychiatric disorders in 1984. He quickly recognised that this group home offered residents the chance for independence and the opportunity to celebrate life within the community. Today, Comcare Trust operates eight supported accommodation services for over 70 residents, along with a psychosocial rehabilitation day centre for adults living with psychiatric disabilities.
The founders
For many the knowledge that your child has a psychiatric disorder, is so overwhelming that each day becomes an unbearable struggle. Graham Louw believed that a diagnosis was not the end of the road, the end of a life, but rather just a different path to take. Mr Louw dedicated his life to helping people and families struggling with psychiatric disorders to appreciate that quality of life and happiness was possible in spite of psychiatric disorders, and that people with psychiatric disorder just needed the opportunities to realise this.
Against all odds, popular practice and advice, Graham Louw and another family bought a home for adults with psychiatric disorders in 1984. He soon realised that this group home afforded people with psychiatric disabilities with the chance for independence and the chance to celebrate life in the community. Today, Comcare Trust operates 8 supported accommodation services for over 70 residents, and a psychosocial rehabilitation day centre for adults with psychiatric disabilities.
Aims
To assist people with psychiatric disabilities to live in the community and attain the greatest
possible level of independence through provision of stable, supportive, rehabilitative home
environment and ongoing psychosocial rehabilitation. By providing effective community-based
care and treatment, the service reduces the incidence of acute psychiatric relapses requiring
specialist treatment from health establishments.
Objectives
- The establishment of supported accommodation and related programs in the community for adults with severe psychiatric disabilities.
- To coordinate and administer supported accommodation and psychosocial rehabilitation services that offers our mental health users the opportunity for quality of life with the least restrictions.
- To provide financial assistance for persons with psychiatric disabilities.
- To increase awareness of the positive effects and rehabilitative role that supportive community services can play in lives of those reintegrating, after extended or repeated periods in psychiatric hospitals.
- To raise funds and secure donations of assets and gifts in an ethical, legal and responsible manner in order to sustain the organization and expand the existing services.
