‘No going back’ to institutional care for people with severe disability: Reflections on practice through an interpretive study

Abstract

Purpose. This paper evaluated quality of life for people with a disability with high health and high support needs following a move from a congregate care institution to community housing. The study explored residents' perceptions of the service, level of community involvement, lifestyle choices, and input into decision-making.

Method. An exploratory interpretative study was conducted using semi structured interviews with nine community house residents, ten community house staff and five family members.

Results. Participants were clear they definitely would not go back to the institution, but the relocation experience was not without difficulties. These issues related to ‘site’, ‘staff’ & ‘skills’.

Conclusions. Direct support staff hold considerable power to increase or diminish residents' quality of life. A targeted programme addressing specific site, staff & skill issues would strengthen quality of life for these very dependent residents.

Keywords:

• Quality of life
• relocation to community living
• people with a disability with high health support needs
• issues surrounding site
• staff and skills