Changes in Living Conditions of People with ID: A Follow‐Up after 16 Years

Abstract

Background: The Swedish disability policy has an ambition that people with disabilities should have the possibility to live like everyone else in the community. A study in 2001 described living conditions of people with ID born 1959ID born -1974 in Uppsala County as compared to the general population in the same age group. The results showed differences between the two groups, particularly regarding employment, finances, and social life. Specific Aims: The aim of the present study were to explore changes in living conditions of a group of people with ID in a 16-year perspective and to compare the outcomes with changes in living conditions of the general population in corresponding age groups.Methods: Information on the living conditions of people with ID for 40 persons who participated in the study 2001 was obtained through proxy reports at 2001 and 2017. National welfare statistics were used to obtain data on the general population. The study focus objective living conditions selected by people with ID including housing, occupation, finances, recreational and cultural activities, family and social relations, society participation, and personal safety.Findings: The results showed clear differences in living conditions to the disadvantage of the sample of people with ID. However, no differences related to gender and level of functional limitations were identified within the study group.Discussion: Even if the study sample is small, the study makes an important contribution to the body of existing literature because knowledge is insufficient on changes over time regarding the living conditions of people with ID in community-based residences. Such knowledge is necessary to identify patterns of equality and inequality and illustrate to what extent people with ID share welfare benefits over time.

Community-Based Support and Social Services and Their Association with Frailty Factors in Older People with Intellectual Disability and Affective and Anxiety Disorders: A Swedish National Population-Based Register Study

“…Furthermore, in our previous research, we have investigated the health of people with ID and affective or anxiety diagnoses regarding comorbidity, healthcare utilisation and polypharmacy (Axmon et al, 2019;El Mrayyan et al, 2019, 2020. Our results confirmed previous research indicating a great amount of multimorbidity and specialist healthcare among people with ID.…”

“…Although the former, large care institutions are closed, significant differences remain in the living conditions for people with ID and the general population (Jansson, 2006;Tøssebro et al, 2012). A follow-up study after 16 years concerning living conditions after deinstitutilisation in Sweden found that people with ID lived in more restricted social enviroments, had less leisure time and had a more limited social life compared to the general population (Umb Carlsson, 2020).…”

No ordinary adult life: Living conditions from the perspective of adults with intellectual disabilities

“…Studies, both in Sweden and internationally, have compared living conditions of people with and without disabilities (Barranha et al,2021; Emerson et al, 2012; Pérez-Hernández et al, 2019; Umb Carlsson and Sonnander, 2005). Some studies focus on objective living conditions in various domains: housing, occupation, education, finances, leisure, personal safety and social belonging (Umb Carlsson, 2020; Umb-Carlsson and Sonnander, 2005). Other studies pay attention to peoples’ experiences of their everyday lives (cf.…”

“…In previous studies the living conditions of a selected group of people with intellectual disabilities were reported from a proxy view (Umb Carlsson, 2020; Umb-Carlsson and Sonnander, 2005). In this study, we focus on experienced living conditions from the perspective of adults with intellectual disabilities.…”

The potential for person-centred planning to support the community participation of adults with an intellectual disability

“…Community exclusion may be perpetuated by perceptions of people with intellectual disability as being different, difficult to approach and prone to inappropriate behaviour, although some neighbours are open to engagement ( Overmars-Marx et al, 2018 ). Studies internationally continue to identify limited community participation for people with intellectual disability ( Bredewold, 2021 ; Merrells et al., 2019 ; Umb Carlsson, 2021 ).…”