Quality of home life for adults with learning disabilities: the interplay of economic policy and professional practice

The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on the preceding article describing changing patterns in the provision and take-up of accommodation services for adults with learning disabilities in Ireland, in the context of the types of reductions in funding that have been apparent internationally for some time.

The commentary examines some of the implications and discusses some of the underlying quality of life issues implicit in the data presented. It also explores the tensions between owning one’s home and receiving specialist support and examines what supported living might enable services to achieve.

The paper concludes that the nature of economic policy and professional practice, alike, have implications for the quality of home life enjoyed by adults with learning disabilities; and that the interplay between them is more complex than is often allowed.

These issues are not new, but frustratingly enduring. Their fresh consideration might assist the urgent need to achieve a more coherent narrative capable of consistent application for present and future generations.