As little empirical material on life in institutional families existed, a qualitative study was undertaken to explore the experiences of contemporary witnesses, particularly those who had experienced the duties and responsibilities of housemothers in the second half of the 20th century. In theory, such families could therefore be understood as a type of institutional family: groups which occasionally use familial patterns of reciprocity but are not themselves families. In the 20th century, houseparent families represented a significant resource in the long‐term care of people with mental illnesses and physical disabilities in diaconical care settings in Germany. The historical concept of houseparents helps us understand the current discussion about new forms of residential care homes and psychiatric care. The concepts of power and domination are very important here. Housemothers did not just do housework they were also caregivers who played a decisive role in resource‐oriented care. Deacons in Germany are ministers in the Protestant Church who also have special training in social care. The findings show that the housemothers often felt that they did not get enough recognition for what they did from the deacons. There are three main phases to their development: (1) ‘Setting out as bride: borrowed power and domination’ (2) ‘Realizing one's potential as a housemother: applied power and domination’ and (3) ‘Leaving the housemother function: lost power and domination’. Housemothers often spent decades living and working in the institutions. This paper is based on interviews with people who lived in these institutions and looks at their experiences of a place where carers and people with mental illness lived together. In the 20th century, they played a very important role. BEHRENS, J.Īccessible summary In German institutions for people with mental illness, some woman lived and worked as ‘housemothers’. Before empowerment: residents' memories of the role of the housemother in diaconal residential care settings in Germany 1945–1995 Before empowerment: residents' memories of the role of the housemother in diaconal residential.

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