Agencies
Services
MFP/Pathways 2009-October 2012: Change in Participant Quality of Life After Transition
Prepared by The University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing
Updated January 2014
Quality of Life (QoL) Survey: Study Sample
From February 2009, through October 2012, 650 MFP/Pathways participants transitioned to the community.
620 completed a baseline QoL survey.
389 completed the one year follow-up QoL survey.
188 completed the two-year follow-up survey.
QoL Survey Response Rate
Response rate for those who transitioned and completed both Baseline and Year 1 surveys was 82% (increase of 7% since last report)
QoL Response Rate by Division/Department:
83% for Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health (DMH) participants (+4%)
80% for Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) participants (+16%)
82% for Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) participants (+19%)
Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) participants were not included because only 14 completed both surveys. During 2013, training was conducted with 22 Pre-Administration Screening (PAS) agency Transition Coordinators (TCs) on how to administer the QoL survey. It is anticipated that more DDD participants will complete both surveys and be included in subsequent reports.
QoL Results – All Participants
| QoL Composite Measure | Pre-Transition | Year 1 | Year 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living Situation | 22 | 74 | 79 |
| Choice and Control (Living Arrangements) | 16 | 82 | 88 |
| Access to Personal Care | 52 | 92 | 88 |
| Treated with Respect and Dignity by Caregivers | 68 | 93 | 95 |
| Community Integration and Inclusion | 20 | 39 | 44 |
| Satisfaction with Life | 53 | 88 | 92 |
| Mood and Health Status | 18 | 22 | 20 |
QoL Domain Impacts: All Participants
Participants experienced significant improvements in 6 of 7 QoL domains. Improvements were maintained two years after transition. These increases meet or exceed national averages.
Satisfaction with Living Arrangements
Satisfaction with Living Situation
Access to Personal Care
Treated with Respect and Dignity
Overall Satisfaction with Life
Integration and Inclusion in the Community
QOL Domain Impacts* Compared to National Average
| Measure | All Ptp | DMH | DOA | DRS | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Situation | 52 | 54 | 54 | 75 | 40-49 |
| Choice and Control (Living Arrangements) | 66 | 69 | 53 | 52 | 40-49 |
| Access to Personal Care | 40 | 45 | 38 | 47 | 10-19 |
| Treated with Respect and Dignity by Caregivers | 25 | 14 | 22 | 33 | 20-29 |
| Integration and Inclusion in the Community | 19 | 22 | -11 | 22 | 10-19 |
| Overall Satisfaction with Life | 35 | 28 | 39 | 46 | 20-29 |
| Lowered Threshold Mood Status | 4 | 3 | 0 | 8 | <10 |
*All numbers indicate % point increase from Baseline to Year 1.
Employment/Volunteering and Community Integration
Comparisons were made between participants: (1) working/volunteering; (2) would like to work/volunteer; (3) neither working/volunteering.
Results:
No differences between the 3 groups in 6 of the 7 QoL domains.
The data suggests that participants who were working/volunteering or expressed interest in working/volunteering reported higher levels of community integration (24 and 29% points) compared to participants who were not working/volunteering.
Final Thoughts
This assessment of MFP/Pathway participants' experience after transition to community living suggests that they experienced significant improvement in their quality-of-life (92% overall).
These findings are higher than reported by Mathematica Policy Research (MPR) in their 2012 Report to Congress (75%; Irvin et al., 2013).
The program is doing more than simply facilitating community transition. Participants reported increased levels of community integration, as well as expanded choice and control in community settings