Outcomes and Costs of Residential Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in Taiwan: A Comparative Evaluation |
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Authors: | Yueh‐Ching Chou Li‐Chan Lin Cheng‐Yun Pu Wan‐Ping Lee Shu‐Chuan Chang |
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Institution: | 1. Institute of Health and Welfare Policy & Research Center for Health & Welfare Policy, National Yang‐Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan;2. Institute of Clinical Nursing, National Yang‐Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan;3. Institute of Public Health & Department of Socail Medicine, National Yang‐Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan;4. Syin‐lu Social Welfare Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan |
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Abstract: | Background The disability policy in Taiwan has traditionally emphasized residential care in large institutions and, more recently, medium‐sized group homes. This paper compares the relative costs, services provided and outcomes between the traditional institutions, medium‐sized group homes and new small‐scale community living units that were launched in 2004 in Taiwan. Materials and Methods Cross‐sectional analysis was used to investigate the three current residential service models. A total of 248 participants with intellectual disabilities were interviewed, including all residents from the existing 25 small residential units and purposively sampled respondents from the other two residential models. Results Outcomes for the Taiwanese participants were consistent with the existing literature on deinstitutionalization from Western societies. Small homes provided better subjective and objective quality of life than both medium‐sized community‐based units and traditional institutions. Conclusion Participants living in small residential homes experienced better outcomes at lower cost than persons living in medium‐sized group homes or institutions. |
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Keywords: | community living outcomes intellectual disability cost residential services Taiwan |
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