There’s No Place Like Home: A National Study of How People with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families Choose Where to Live

March 17, 2020
Source: The Arc

The findings from this research study have wide implications and offer recommendations for both policy and practice. This study can help us better understand how people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families make decisions about where to live. Deinstitutionalization has reached an all-time high, and people with I/DD are more likely to be living with family or in other community-based settings, which is both more cost effective and results in increased positive outcomes in health and safety, community participation, strengthened relationships, and self-determination.

However, around 75% of adults with I/DD live with a parent or other caregiver, and are not connected to publicly available services and supports; Nearly one-million households have a caregiver over the age of 60, and more than half of these families indicated that they do not have a plan for the future.

The report highlights a number of needs and related recommendations, including:

• the need for a centralized place for information and resources;
• eased system navigation and transparency;
• an expanded and adequately funded community infrastructure;
• increased attention to quality including person-centered practices and rights; and,
• facilitation of choice-making opportunities for people with I/DD.