| Session Title: Measuring Quality of Life of Adults With Developmental Disabilities as a Quality Improvement Mechanism |
| Multipaper Session 746 to be held in Panzacola Section F2 on Saturday, Nov 14, 10:55 AM to 11:40 AM |
| Sponsored by the Human Services Evaluation TIG |
| Chair(s): |
| Dale Howard, Howard Research & Management Consulting Inc, dale@howardresearch.com |
| Abstract: This session focuses on operationalizing the construct "quality of life" to measure impact of services and supports provided to adults with developmental disabilities. It focuses first on quality of life as a key component of a "balanced scorecard" approach as a way to move forward in evaluation of services and supports provided. Second, the session focuses on the use of quality of life as part of a quality improvement process, including the importance of considering local context when moving forward in measurement. The key elements of measuring quality of life (e.g., instrument design, administration and analysis) and the importance of positioning results in the local context in order to derive value for local agencies and systems is also discussed. Discussion throughout this session is situated within the context of implementation of a pilot project to measure quality of life of adults with developmental disabilities in a region within Alberta, Canada. |
| Quality of Life as a Performance Measure in Providing Supports to Adults With Developmental Disabilities |
| Dale Howard, Howard Research & Management Consulting Inc, dale@howardresearch.com |
| Sean McDermott, Government of Alberta, sean.mcdermott@gov.ab.ca |
| Large amounts of government funds are directed toward providing services and supports for adults with developmental disabilities. However, there is often limited measurement of the degree to which such services and supports are effective in achieving better outcomes for clients. The culture of the sector, as well as traditional models of service provision, have limited the extent to which measurement is both possible and considered important. However, as a key component of a "balance scorecard", the use of the construct "quality of life" provides a way to move forward in evaluation of the impact of services and supports provided to clients. This paper discusses the implementation of a pilot to measure quality of life of adults with developmental disabilities in a region within Alberta, Canada, and the importance of situating results within the local context of the service delivery system in order to derive meaning for local agencies and systems. |
| Considerations and Processes in Measuring Quality of Life of Adults With Developmental Disabilities |
| Teresa Bladon, Howard Research & Management Consulting Inc, teresa@howardresearch.com |
| Jillian Carson, Government of Alberta, jillian.carson@gov.ab.ca |
| Measurement of quality of life provides a method to gauge the degree to which services and supports provided to adults with developmental disabilities improve individuals' lives along a number of dimensions related to personal well-being. Over the past decade the use of this measure has been employed in a variety of international contexts. However, when "quality of life" as a quality improvement measure is considered, the context in which it is going to be employed must also be considered. It is not sufficient to simply take an instrument developed elsewhere and administer it in any local context. This paper discusses the key elements of measuring quality of life of adults with developmental disabilities and the importance of considering local context in instrument design, survey administration and data analysis. Failure to consider this context can limit validity of the tool, effectiveness of data collection methods employed, and usefulness of results obtained. |