How Organizations Can Enhance the Quality of Life of Their Clients and Assess Their Results: The Concept of QOL Enhancement

Abstract

This article presents the framework of a dynamic approach to quality of life (QOL) enhancement based on the conceptualization and measurement of individual-referenced quality of life. Sections of the article summarize the premises of QOL enhancement, provide the rationale for a dynamic approach to QOL enhancement, discuss six components of QOL enhancement, and discuss the parameters of an emerging theory of quality of life and the contributions such a theory would make to service delivery, policy development, and QOL-related research.

How to improve sharing and application of knowledge in care and support for people with intellectual disabilities? A systematic review

“…To optimise quality of care and support for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) it is important to make the most of the existing body of knowledge (Schalock et al 2008;Reinders & Schalock 2014). The sharing and application of knowledge are key processes in this respect (West 2004;Pentland et al 2011;Crilly et al 2012).…”

“…Second, interventions for the general population are usually not suitable and have to be customised (Vlaskamp et al 2007;Hodes et al 2014). Third, in the field of ID increasing attention is being paid to the inclusion of experiential knowledge in conducting research and providing care and support (Embregts et al accepted;van Loon et al 2013;Verbrugge & Embregts 2013;Reinders & Schalock 2014;Frankena et al 2015).…”

Operationalisation of quality of life for adults with severe disabilities

“…; Schalock & Verdugo , ; Gómez et al . ; Reinders & Schalock ) and (3) guide social policies (e.g. Shogren et al .…”

A Systematic Approach to Enhancing the Personal Well-Being of Children and Adolescents

“…The rationale for using a QOL framework as an underlying principle and framework in implementing the systematic approach described in this article is that a QOL framework: (a) integrates the five trends summarized in Table 1 through its emphasis on fundamental principles related to equity, inclusion, empowerment, and self-determination; (b) incorporates a holistic, positive approach to individuals based on positive psychology and strengths-based models of growth and development; (c) provides a framework for person-centered planning; (d) allows one to evaluate the impact of various individual and environmental variables on personal outcomes: (e) reflects the individualized nature of personal well-being; (f) aligns thought and action through a "quality of life language of thought and action" whose basic concepts include human and legal rights, equity, inclusion, empowerment, and self-determination; whose relationships involve interactions, social networks, community participation, valued roles, and positive experiences; and whose spatial concepts reflect inclusion, active participation, and being in and of the community; and (g) has an extensive literature base regarding its conceptualization, measurement, and application (Bigby & Beadle-Brown, 2014;Bigby, Knox, Beadle-Brown, & Bould, 2014;Brown, Hatton, & Emerson, 2015;Claes, Van Hove, van Loon, Vandevelde, & Schalock, 2009;Pazey et al, 2016;Reinders & Schalock, 2014;Schalock & Keith, 2016;Wehmeyer, 2013). Because of its strengths and applicability, the QOL concept is increasingly being used as a universal indicator of success whenever we intend to advance the well-being of children and adolescents through interventions, programs, and policy (Schippers, Zuna, & Brown, 2015;Wallender & Koot, 2015).…”

“… Use strategic planning and organization transformation strategies to reduce the discrepancies. Examples are presented in Reinders and Schalock (2014) and Schalock and Verdugo (2012).…”