Successful living placement for adults with disabilities: considerations for social work practice

This article presents a study which was implemented to investigate successful community living in rural non-elders with chronic physical disabilities. Based on the results of an initial naturalistic study, a survey design was used to identify factors which distinguish persons with disabilities between the ages of 16-65 in institutional settings from their counterparts in community-based settings. The findings revealed significant differences in desire for autonomy, satisfaction with participation in the level of decision making around living environment, knowledge of community living and service options, fear of being alone in the community, support from family and personal care assistance in the community and socialization patterns. Yet no significant differences in functional status or need for assistance in activities of daily living was noted between the groups. The study suggests that living placement is not a function of medical or activities of daily living assistance need, but rather is a complex phenomenon comprised of numerous personal, social, resource and environmental factors.