A Systematic Review of Outcomes for People With Intellectual Disabili…
Published May 13, 2026
A UK systematic review finds that outcomes often improve after long-stay hospital resettlement, while emphasizing uneven results and evidence gaps.
<p><em>This systematic review examined outcomes after resettlement from long-stay hospitals for people with intellectual disabilities and/or autistic people in the United Kingdom.</em></p><p><em>Across the available studies, outcomes often improved after community resettlement, including aspects of quality of life, participation, and behavior. The authors caution that improvement is not guaranteed, that outcomes may remain below those of comparable populations, and that evidence on costs, readmissions, and people’s own experiences is limited.</em></p><p><em>This review does not establish that one service model works for every person. Transition planning and community supports should be individualized, with the person and their family or supporters meaningfully involved.</em></p><p><em>Source: Rubenstein E, et al. “A Systematic Review of Outcomes for People With Intellectual Disabilities and/or Autistic People Following Resettlement From Long-Stay Hospitals in the UK.” Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 2026;39(3):e70244. </em><a target="blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.70244"><em>https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.70244</em></a><em> (PMID: 42117877).</em></p>