A longitudinal evaluation of personalised housing and support to individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental ill health
Fiona Keogh
Genio Trust
Dr. Fiona Keogh is Director of Research and Evidence with Genio. Fiona has over 20 years’ experience in conducting health services research and evaluation in Ireland, in mental health, disability and dementia. Her special interest is supporting and implementing change in complex systems. She has also carried out significant work in health policy, contributing to the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services in Ireland (2012) and writing much of the government’s current mental health policy A Vision for Change (2006). Fiona is also an Associate Lecturer on the IPA Masters in Healthcare Management course.
Abstract
Background: Internationally increased attention is focussed on the provision of personalised supports to persons with disabilities and enduring illness. This is seen as a more cost-effective way of meeting their needs. The... [ view full abstract ]
Background: Internationally increased attention is focussed on the provision of personalised supports to persons with disabilities and enduring illness. This is seen as a more cost-effective way of meeting their needs. The Genio Trust, with funding from Atlantic Philanthropies, HSE and the Department of Health and Children, grant-aided 23 projects in 2010 and 2011 to facilitate over 200 persons to avail of personalised housing and support arrangements.
Aim: To evaluate the impact on people supported over two years in terms of social relationships, community connections, health and quality of life.
Method: The evaluation contrasted people who moved from congregated settings to either personalised arrangements or to community group homes. Comparisons were also made with persons who continued to reside in congregated settings and those who were already living in personalised arrangements. Structured pro formas were used to gather quantitative data with face-to-face interviews yielding qualitative data. Information was collected at three time points from three groups of informants: people supported by the projects, their key-workers and, if available the relatives of the persons. Ethical approval was given by the author’s University.
Results: People living in or who moved to personalised arrangements fared best on indicators of social relationships, community connections and quality of life whereas those moving to group homes had lesser gains on these domains with those remaining in congregated settings doing least well. Interview data confirmed the main outcomes for the person of moving: namely increased independence, freedom, new friends and better social life. The processes perceived to produce change included listening and respecting the person’s choices, support staff standing back, re-balancing risk and engaging with the community.
Conclusions: This data suggests that greater investment in personalised housing and support options will be cost-beneficial to people and services.
Authors
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Roy McConkey
(Ulster University)
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Fiona Keogh
(Genio Trust)
Topic Area
Intellectual Disability
Session
ID-1 » Intellectual Disability 1 (10:30 - Thursday, 5th November, Lecture Theatre 2.57)
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