title: Moving from aged care facilities to community-based accommodation: outcomes and environmental factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nearly 3500 people under 60 years of age are living in residential aged care in Australia, a situation which is generally recognized as incompatible with optimum quality of life. The objective of the current study is to explore the transition experiences of young people with acquired brain injury who have lived in aged care facilities and moved into community-based settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Grounded theory, qualitative design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven individuals with very severe ABI, seven family caregivers and two disability support workers. Each interview was recorded and transcribed verbatim.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants identified a range of positive outcomes that resulted from the transition from aged care settings to community living environments including increased independence in everyday activities, improved well-being and a greater degree of social inclusion. Participants also identified environmental factors that they deemed as crucial to facilitating positive outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  People with very severe ABI have the potential to increase their level of independence in community-based accommodation settings; a potential that is not fostered in most aged care environments. The findings inform the outcome variables and environmental factors that should be measured in studies of transition from aged care to the community.
authors.affiliation: Summer Foundation, Melbourne, Australia. di.winkler@summerfoundation.org.au
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Farnworth
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*