Defining a National Health Research and Practice Agenda for Older Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

With the increasing number of adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) surviving into old age governments, provider agencies, and practitioners are recognizing the insufficiencies of available information related to the interaction of the aging process with lifelong disability, the incidence of disease and secondary conditions with advancing age, and the means to provide quality medical and health care. These insufficiencies were noted by a World Health Organization report that identified a need for more research on the health of older adults with IDs and reports from two meetings held by United States Public Health Service and the United States Surgeon General that examined health disparities among adults with ID. This paper reports the process and results of the Tampa Scientific Conference on Intellectual Disabilities, Aging, and Health, a meeting held in 2002 specifically to examine health issues germane to older adults with ID. The meeting produced a long-term research agenda for determining more effective physical and mental health outcomes for aging and older persons with ID and recommendations for aging-related medical and health surveillance practices that would improve the overall health status of adults with ID.

Carer reports of health status among adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities in Taiwan living at home and in institutions

“…Given the global trend of persons with I/DD living longer, Taiwan’s healthcare system is facing a growing challenge. Most health policy makers and the health professionals know very little about adults with I/DD or about what happens as they age (Davidson et al . 2004).…”

The impact of living arrangements and deinstitutionalisation in the health status of persons with intellectual disability in Europe

“…2009) and health targets and indicators are being developed for PWID (Whitfield et al . 1996; Davidson et al . 2004; Jansen et al .…”

Leisure Education and Later‐Life Planning: A Conceptual Framework

“…While acknowledging that much remains to be learned, there is general agreement in this literature that beyond some etiologically specific concerns, the biological stages of aging and influencing factors encountered by people without disabilities also affect those with intellectual disability. Typically, when variations to this norm are evident they appear to be the function of social and environmental factors and practices unique to the life experiences of individuals with intellectual disabilities (Davidson, et al, 2004; Hogg, et al., 2001; Thorpe, Davidson, & Janicki, 2001). To enhance understanding of these unique factors, three overarching issues – each relevant to the purpose of this paper – have been identified from the existing literature: (1) the need to include the perspectives of older adults with intellectual disabilities on matters that affect their lives (Davidson et al., 2004; Goode, 1988; Taylor & Bogdan, 1990); (2) the importance of enhancing knowledge about later‐life issues and planning processes (Heller, Miller, Hsieh, & Sterns, 2000; Sterns, Kennedy, Sed, & Heller, 2000); and (3) the identification of lifestyle conditions and practices that contribute to healthy aging (Davidson et al., 2004).…”

“…Ideally, planning for later life should be an extension of planning processes undertaken throughout the life course (i.e., a life span approach to planning); however, this currently is not standard practice (Davidson et al., 2004). Traditionally, planning for later life, if it occurred at all, was a parent‐ and/or family‐driven process that concentrated on a limited range of issues such as guardianship, finances, and residential provisions for older adults with intellectual disability (Bigby, 2000; Heller & Factor, 1994).…”

“…Individuals with intellectual disability represent an increasing segment of the older population, not only in the United States but in developed and developing nations around the world (Janicki & Ansello, 2000; Manton & XiLiang, 2001). Consequently, our needs have intensified for better understanding a wide range of issues that affect these individuals and of the supports they may require for quality living in later life (Davidson, Heller, Janicki, & Hyer, 2004; Heller, 2004).…”