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Community Living-Unit Size, Staff Presence, and Residents' Choice-Making
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1997
Year
Independent LivingCommunity PerceptionDisabilityMental HealthSocial SciencesPsychologyStaff PresenceCommunity Living-unit SizeMental RetardationHousingPsychiatryCommunity EngagementSize EffectsCommunity ParticipationCommunity DevelopmentCommunity EnvironmentLivabilitySociologyLong-term CareResident ServicesMedicineHomelessness
The study examined how residence size influences choice opportunities among Australian adults with intellectual disability living in staff‑supported community residences of one to five residents. Although residents in smaller units exercised more choice, analyses showed that staff presence—especially longer periods without staff—was a stronger predictor of choice once both factors were considered.
The impact of size of residence on residents' opportunities for choice was examined for Australian adults with mental retardation who lived in staff-supported community residences housing one to five residents. Significantly greater choice was exercised by individuals living in smaller settings, even when personal characteristics of individual residents were controlled statistically. Staff presence was confounded with living-unit size. Analyses including both staff presence and living-unit size revealed strong effects of staff presence, with more choice displayed in settings with longer periods when no staff members were present. Size effects were less evident once the variability associated with staff presence had been accounted for. Results suggest that both staff presence and living-unit size are important predictors of choice.