Embracing quality of life in times of spending restraint

Abstract

Quality of life has emerged as an important trend in recent years in the field of intellectual disabilities. At the same time, spending restraints in developed countries have placed strains on services. This paper explores the relationship between these two seemingly opposing trends. Quality of life is seen as the goal toward which we strive, and also the degree to which we have achieved that goal. It is proposed that we “reframe” to quality of life. Reframing to quality of life is based on the principle that every person with intellectual disabilities has the right to lead a life of quality, and presents us with three service goals, namely, to maintain or improve 1) good conditions of life, 2) each person's happiness, and 3) the ways people have of becoming enabled to lead fulfilling lives of their own choosing. It is suggested that we need to reframe to quality of life in times of spending restraint to ensure adequate service standards, to use our resources in ways that are most beneficial to people with intellectual disabilities, and to save resources that are not wanted. It is concluded that there can be a mutually beneficial relationship between quality of life and spending restraint, if approached wisely. Containing service costs can be a positive force if used to help us focus our costs on things that make people's lives better. Improving people's quality of life can lead us to identify the most important places to use our resources, and ways to use them to help people have better lives.