| Summary: | Background: There has been a process of de-institutionalisation and mental health care re-forms in Sweden. Social services are, according to the law, responsible for helping persons with mental illness to live a life like others and to participate in the community. The aim of the study was to describe the culture in one of the social services adult day care center for social relations and activities in Stockholm. The aim was also to focus on the importance of the adult day care center for recovery and empowerment from the participants´ perspective. Methods Observations in the adult day care center were combined with four interviews with regular participants. Findings The culture could be described as a jovial "non-family" where the professionals had a parenting position and the participants could be seen as adult family members. Although the "non-family" could offer protection, safety and possibilities for re¬covery and empowerment, the study showed that there is a lack of opportunities for recovery and empowerment. Implications The possibility for people with mental illness to live like others and participate in the community is limited to a parallel participation and the question is if and how an interactive participation can be achieved.
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