Comparing Quality of Life for People with Learning Disabilities and People who are Unemployed or Retired

Abstract

This study investigates the quality of life of people who moved out of a large long‐stay hospital to ‘ordinary housing’ with support staff. A social reference group of unemployed/retired people living in the same urban area was chosen for comparison as they have similar economic status and local opportunities. Ager's Life Experiences Checklist (LEC) was completed by staff for people with learning disabilities and by the researchers in interviews with unemployed/retired people. The rationale for this method is discussed. Findings support the view that the lifestyle of people with learning disabilities, when compared with people of similar socio‐economic status, is enhanced in the domains of Home, Leisure, Opportunities and Freedom, but not in the area of Relationships. Discussion of the need for caution in interpretation is included, especially as the scores of people with learning disabilities are shown to be more like those of Ager's general population. There are pointers to the use of normative data to assist services in monitoring outcomes.