An evaluation of specialized community-based residential supports for people with challenging behaviour

This study explored the effects of relocation from institutional to specialized community-based residential provision for six men with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour and for a comparison group of six men with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour who were already living in specialized community-based residential provision. Relocation was associated with: (1) a significant increase in participants' domestic activity skills; (2) a decrease in the observed occurrence of some problem behaviours; (3) an increase in quality of life; and (4) an increase in engagement and staff contact. The community group, however, also showed some improvements over time, most notably in their levels of engagement in meaningful activity and staff contact. The implications of these results for service provision and suggestions for future research are discussed.