Environmental characteristics of nursing homes and community-based settings, and the well-being of adults with intellectual disability

Abstract

The present study examined whether characteristics of the environment of nursing homes and community-based residential settings are associated with the adaptive behaviour, health and community integration of adults with intellectual disability living in those settings. The specific characteristics of the environment were type of facility, size, level of residential involvement in policy-making, and the degree of variety and stimulation of the physical environment. The study assessed 249 residents with intellectual disability over a 3-year period who lived in nursing homes at baseline. At follow-up, 50 of the residents had moved to community-based facilities while 199 of the residents remained in nursing homes. The results indicated that type, size and characteristics of the environment were related to the level of adaptive behaviour and community integration at follow-up. Residents living in community-based settings had better health and greater levels of community integration than residents living in nursing homes. Residents living in smaller facilities had greater adaptive behaviour at follow-up than residents living in larger facilities. More variety and stimulation in the residential physical environment was associated with greater adaptive behaviour among residents at follow-up. Residential facilities that permitted greater resident involvement in policy-making, and had greater variety and stimulation in their physical environment were associated with greater levels of community integration among their residents at follow-up.