Multiperspective analysis of workforce challenges and their effects on consumer and family quality of life

The impacts of direct support professional turnover, wages, and vacancy rates as reported in interviews with 372 adult service recipients and 20 county managers and surveys of 183 families, 520 service coordinators, 228 direct support professionals, and 184 residential and 82 vocational managers were examined. Direct support professional turnover, wages, and vacancy rates were reported to be barriers to high quality supports, serving people waiting for services, and providing in-home or respite services. Higher direct support professional turnover was associated with lower wages and supports in urban counties. Multivariate analyses of covariance revealed a complex pattern of significant associations between quality of life outcomes; level of mental retardation, medical status, site size (for vocational settings); and direct support professional vacancy rates, average wage, and turnover rates.