title: Characteristics, supports, and quality of life of Irish adults with intellectual disability in life-sharing residential communities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few empirical studies have compared quality and outcomes for residents with intellectual disability across intentional communities such as those organised by the Camphill communities in Ireland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a multi-element research protocol developed for an earlier large study, data were gathered about the characteristics of N = 29 participants living in life-sharing residences organised by Camphill, management procedures, and outcomes for residents. Comparable data were available for N = 125 adults in group homes or campus residences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Camphill residents reported a smaller size of household, higher staffing ratios, homely living areas, low levels of institutionalised practices such as social distance, reciprocal relationships with houseparents, and well-developed management procedures, as well as less choice, but were not found to be better on a range of other objective measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although modest in scale, present findings suggest that the value of applying distinctive benefits of life-sharing communities in more typical residential settings for people with intellectual disability should be investigated further to inform current policy debates.
authors.affiliation: Child and Family Consultation Service, Kilkenny, Ireland.
authors.forename: Aine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fahey
authors.forename: Patricia Noonan
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guerin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016352:Group Homes / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012424:Rural Population; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult