Comparing costs and outcomes of supported living with group homes in Australia

Bigby, Christine; Bould, Emma; Beadle-Brown, Julie

doi:10.26181/5fadfbbf930f9

Comparing costs and outcomes of supported living with group homes in Australia

journal contribution

posted on 2020-11-13, 03:21 authored by Christine BigbyChristine Bigby, Emma BouldEmma Bould, Julie Beadle-Brown

Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Background: Supported living is perceived as more flexible than group homes for people with intellectual disability. This study identified costs and factors associated with quality of life (QOL) in supported living and compared this with group homes. Method: Thirty-one residents in supported living participated in a survey incorporating measures of service user characteristics and QOL. Participants in supported living were compared to a sample of 397 people in 96 group homes, and QOL outcomes compared for a matched sample of 29 people in supported living and group homes. Results: QOL differed little, supported living was cheaper, and 30–35% of both groups had similar support needs. Being younger, having autism, better health, family support, and participation in structured activities were associated with better outcomes in supported living. Conclusions: Supported living holds potential for group home residents, but greater support is required in domains such as health and interpersonal relationships.

Funding

This study was funded with assistance from a funding grant offered under the National Disability Research and Development Agenda, jointly implemented by disability representatives from Commonwealth, State, and Territory governments. However, the information and views contained in this research are not intended as a statement of the Australian Government or any jurisdictional policy, and do not necessarily, or at all, reflect the views held by the Australian Government or jurisdictional government departments.

History

Publication Date

2017-03-01

Journal

Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability

Volume

43

Issue

3

Pagination

13p. (p. 295-307)

Publisher

Taylor and Francis

ISSN

1366-8250

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