Health Access for Independent Living (HAIL): a Pilot Study Examining a Health Management Program for Adults with Physical Disabilities.

Abstract

People with physical disabilities experience higher rates of secondary health conditions and often have difficulty accessing healthcare and other resources to manage these conditions compared to the general population. Centers for Independent Living (CIL), community-based, non-profit, non-residential centers, are uniquely poised to facilitate the health promotion of individuals with disabilities. This project aimed to develop and provide an 8-week structured and individualized program for CIL staff to facilitate the management of secondary health conditions through setting and pursuing SMART goals with adult consumers with physical disabilities. Researchers developed and pilot-tested the Health Access for Independent Living (HAIL) program in consultation with CILs and designed it to fit within the existing CIL service delivery system. The HAIL program was developed and piloted sequentially with two cohorts of 12 CIL staff members and 23 consumers with physical disabilities in Kansas and Pennsylvania communities. The HAIL program helped 82.3% of participants achieve their health goals at their expected level and led to fewer perceived barriers to managing their health. The HAIL program provided a structured program for CIL staff to assist adult consumers with physical disabilities in managing their health and fit well into the CIL service delivery system.