Quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities

As the quality of life for the mental health of people with intellectual disabilities has been identified as a comprehensive indicator of intervention efficacy, scientific interest around it is shifting from theoretical issues to the ways of measurement. Nevertheless, the daily assessment still awaits the addressing of the questions of what the essence of quality of life is, how it is really or effectively measurable, by whom and for what purpose it is done.

The point well agreed upon is that the measurement should be based on both qualitative and quantitative variables from both subjective and objective positions. It should also be conducted through a comprehensive system that includes auto and hetero evaluations (if possible both by proxies and other external persons). Current instruments of assessment are too different from each other and refer to different levels of evaluation. This results in inappropriate applications to the assessment and care procedures.

A need for more methodologically rigorous studies exists, which is tracked in terms of applicability to daily practice and content effectiveness. At both health policy and front-line staff levels, assessment should aim at mobilizing and revaluing resources that can help a person to embark on or to continue a life-span curriculum of life skills.