Outcomes of a Residential Program After Successful Graduation: A Pilot Quality Improvement Study

Abstract

Residential treatment is an effective way to provide care to individuals who struggle with core life skills, have a mental illness, and/or have trouble adhering to treatment plans. The environment of residential care offers alternatives to typical treatment methods and a network of support to help foster independence. This pilot study assesses the impact of one residential care program from the perspective of those who were successfully discharged. The WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0, the Outcome Rating Scale, and a homelessness screening tool were used to gather data from a small sample (N = 6) of former residents who completed the program. Results indicated that half of the discharges remained at stable functioning throughout the study duration, while the other half had difficulties in multiple domains of functioning. Insights obtained about instability following discharge will inform future research on quality of care with progress data collected throughout a client’s stay.