Strengthening Community Participation by People With Disabilities in Community-Based Group Homes Through Innovative...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Disability Studies
• Community Psychology

Background:

• A paradigm shift towards community-based care is occurring, impacting individuals with disabilities in residential settings.
• Ensuring meaningful community participation for residents with disabilities is a key policy objective.
• Despite government initiatives, progress in community integration for residents with disabilities remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how resources and relationships among care providers, residents, families, and community members can enhance community participation.
• To assess and improve the quality of relationships between direct care staff, managers, residents, family members, and the community.
• To leverage relational coordination theory and value creation models in a residential care setting.

Main Methods:

• A community case study utilizing an action research intervention in a residential group home for adults with acquired brain injuries.
• A pre-test/post-test design with quantitative electronic surveys assessing relational coordination (RC) among staff.
• Qualitative data collection through focus groups, change team meetings, and key informant interviews.

Main Results:

• Direct care staff identified weak ties with the community as a concern.
• An intervention, a community-wide open house, was implemented by staff.
• Post-intervention, staff demonstrated increased (qualitatively significant) relational coordination with the community, fostering real connections.

Conclusions:

• Engaging direct care staff in improving relational coordination with community members shows promise.
• Building essential relationships can facilitate greater community participation for residents with disabilities.
• This pilot study provides tentative evidence for staff-led interventions to enhance community integration.