DAILY ACTIVITY, COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN AN ORDINARY HOUSING NETWORK - A 2-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

This paper reports follow-up data on an earlier evaluative study (Rapl ey & Beyer, 1996) of a small community-based dispersed housing service . With the concept of Quality of Life (QOL) becoming established in th e literature as an appropriate outcome measure of service practice, th e previous study reported the use of the Schalock & Keith (1993) Quali ty of Life Questionnaire (QOL.Q) as an adjunct to established evaluati ve measures of service quality. Rapley & Beyer (1996) concluded that m easures such as the QOL.Q may offer a useful addition to the evaluativ e armoury. This study reports service outcome data collected in the sa me network after a 2-year interval. A positive change in measured qual ity of life was observed. Overall levels of engagement were static ove r time. Small positive changes in levels of socially integrative and d omestic activities did not reach statistical significance. Changes in QOL.Q scores were consistent with the observed changes in the detail o f community and domestic participation.