What is and isn’t working: Factors involved in sustaining community-based health and participation initiatives for people aging with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Spassiani, Natasha; Meisner, Brad; Abou Chacra, Megan S.; Heller, Tamar; Hammel, Joy

Abstract

As people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) age it is important that I/DD agencies are prepared to support healthy aging in homes and in communities. This study explored supports and barriers to sustaining community-based health and participation initiatives (CBHPI) for people aging with I/DD living in group homes managed by agencies. The study utilized interviews and photovoice with 70 participants—35 individuals with I/DD and 35 management/direct support agency staff. Data were analyzed through content analysis and triangulation of data where five themes emerged: Agency values and policies related to healthy aging; resources and staff competencies; communication between management and staff; community/university partnerships; peer relations. Findings show that I/DD agencies and people with I/DD value CBHPI, but they find them difficult to sustain due to limited resources and lack of training specific to aging with I/DD.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 4, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jul 1, 2019
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Deposit Date: Jun 5, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 2, 2020
• Journal: Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disbilities
• Print ISSN: 1360-2322
• Electronic ISSN: 1468-3148
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1465-1477
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12640
• Keywords: Intellectual/developmental disabilities, health promotion, knowledge translation, systems, sustainability,
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1853389
• Contract Date: Jun 5, 2019