Factors associated with staff support and resident lifestyle in services for people with multiple disabilities: A path analytic approach

The quality and costs of residential services for 40 adults with severe learning disabilities and sensory impairments across four different service models were evaluated. A path analytic approach was used to calculate factors associated with four indicators of service quality: (1) assistance received by residents from staff; (2) positive contact received by residents from staff; (3) resident engagement in constructive activity; and (4) the level of physical integration of residents. The path analyses accounted for between 50 and 77% of the variance in the indicators. Factors found to be commonly associated with all four indicators included a community location, a specialized service orientation, the cognitive abilities of residents and a high level of scheduled activity. Service resources in the form of costs or staff ratios were not associated with any indicator of service quality. The findings strongly suggest an inverse system of care in that residents with greater skills receive more staff support. The implications of these and other findings for further research and service practice are discussed.