By concept and factoranalysis four types of skills were distinguished: basic personal skills (14 items), social skills (4 items), internal (6 items) and external social integration (20 items). In a sample of 381 longstay patients of 5 mental hospitals 15% of the patients was seriously handicapped in their basic personal skills. These patients were rarely considered eligible for alternative care. Basic personal skills turned out to be a necessary, but not an exclusive condition for the assignment of patients to alternative care. For living a more independent life social skills like verbal communication in daily life-interactions, handling money, using the telephone and public transportation, shopping and preparing simple meals are at least as important. About half (47%) of the study-population had serious difficulties with such social skills. Out of the patients with good social skills, however, 57% was considered eligible for discharge to alternative care as sheltered homes, daycare/-treatment or out-patient mental health care.