The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on older adults with an intellectual disability during the first wave of the pandemic in Ireland

Abstract

Background: People with intellectual disability have increased risk of exposure to and adverse outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).They also face challenges to mental health and well-being from COVID-19-related social restrictions and service closures. Methods: Data from a supplemental COVID-19 survey from the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) (n=710) was used to assess outcomes from the first infection wave of COVID-19 among adults with intellectual disability aged 40+ years in Ireland. Data was gathered on testing, for symptoms and outcomes; procedures to manage COVID-19; and both stress/anxiety and positive experiences during the pandemic. Demographic and health-related data from the main IDS-TILDA dataset was included in analyses. Results: High rates were identified of health conditions associated with poorer COVID-19 outcomes, including overweight/obesity (66.6%, n=365), high cholesterol (38.6%, n=274) and cardiovascular disease (33.7%, n=239). Over half (53.5%, n=380) reported emotional, nervous or psychiatric disorders. Almost two-thirds (62.4%, n=443) were tested for COVID-19, with 10% (n=71) reporting symptoms and 2.5% (n=11) testing positive. There were no instances of COVID-19 related mortality. Common symptoms included fatigue, fever, and cough. Some participants (7.8%, n=55) moved from their usual home to isolate, most often (n=31) or relocate to a family home (n=11). Three-quarters (78.7%) of those who were symptomatic or who tested positive had plans to manage self-isolation and two-thirds were able to comply with guidelines. Over half (55%, n=383) reported some COVID-19 related stress/anxiety; and a similar proportion reported positive aspects during this period (58%, n=381). Conclusions: Our data suggests that people with intellectual disability avoided the worst impacts of COVID-19 during the first infection wave in Ireland. Nevertheless, participants’ health profiles suggest that this population remains at high risk for adverse infection outcomes. Repeated measures are needed to track health and well-being outcomes across multiple infection waves.

Use of technology by older adults with an intellectual disability in Ireland to support health, well‐being and social inclusion during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…A targeted sample refreshment was undertaken before Wave 4 of the study in 2019, achieving a final sample of 739 that was again demographically representative of the target population. A survey of the impact of COVID‐19 during the first wave of the pandemic in Ireland was conducted among IDS‐TILDA participants in 2020 ( n = 710) (McCarron et al, 2021). A second follow‐up COVID‐19 survey, on which the current study in based, was conducted among surviving IDS‐TILDA participants in 2021 ( n = 682) (McCausland et al, 2021).…”

“…Participants reported isolation, missing family and friends, sporting activities and holidays. Also during the first infection wave of the pandemic in Ireland, IDS‐TILDA found that the biggest cause of stress or anxiety among older adults with intellectual disability was missing one's usual activities, followed by missing family and missing friends (McCarron et al, 2021). A Spanish study found that 91% of people with intellectual disabilities reported that they had missed either someone or something during the pandemic (Amor et al, 2021).…”

“…How this, in turn, impacted access to technology and digital skills for many including people with intellectual disabilities may be one of the few positives to take from the pandemic. In Ireland, an IDS‐TILDA COVID‐19 survey during the first wave of the pandemic found that having the opportunity to use technology to communicate was among the most common positives, highlighted by 14% of respondents (McCarron et al, 2021). Additional analysis of the IDS‐TILDA sample's data identified that both access to and use of technology increased significantly for participants who were interviewed pre‐pandemic compared with those interviewed following the COVID‐19 outbreak, after controlling for other variables including previously measured access and use of technology (McCausland et al, 2021).…”

“…With regard to the health impact of the pandemic, an IDS‐TILDA COVID‐19 survey in 2020 found that older adults with intellectual disability avoided the worst impacts of the early pandemic in Ireland compared with more widespread morbidity and mortality among the general older nursing home population (McCarron et al, 2021). However, this finding was anomalous with other findings among people with intellectual disabilities internationally and may reflect instead the preparedness and response to the pandemic by disability services in Ireland.…”

“…With regard to mental health and well‐being, research conducted in Ireland showed that loneliness, stress and anxiety experienced during the pandemic were twice as high among older adults with an intellectual disability (McCarron et al, 2020) compared with the general older population (Ward et al, 2021). Closure of disability support services such as day programmes and respite have caused anxiety, concern and stress for many individuals and their families (Evans, 2020; Inclusion Ireland, 2020).…”