Rukaya - the assylum challenge was actually where you could only control one sim in the assylum - the only sim that is less crazy than the rest who can actually come and go - while the rest must fend for themselves - there is not enough beds or any luxuries and everything must be very limited according to the rules. You can't tell the crazies when to eat, to sleep, or even feed themselves. You can do nothing but observe them. That's why the pictures are so funny.
It was actually harder in the Sims 2 to keep them alive, as they do a better job of dealing in sims 3 - but you need the rules if you plan to play the challenge. Like Rflong letting them go places was not really allowed in the challenge rules - that is why they are traited to hate the outdoors so they will stay inside. But you can't call them a maid or a repair service or tell any to skill or fix broken things. They have to do it all on there own while you just control the one sim. Sometimes it is hard to not tell them to do things, but it is the rules - and they are limited to things they can have in the assylum. Just do a search for Assylum Challenge rules and you can find it.