An Ageing Intellectual Disability Population: Exploring How Intellectual Disability Agencies Are Supporting Healthy Ageing

Spassiani, N.; Meisner, B.; Heller, T.; Hammel, J.

Abstract

Introduction: Providing support for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) to remain in the community as they age is a relatively new concept for ID agencies. The purpose of this study was to explore how ID agencies are engaging people with ID living in group homes to participate in community-based health initiatives as they age.
Methods: A total of 19 participants were interviewed from two non-profit ID agencies located in Chicago, Illinois. The semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants, 6 with management and 13 with direct support staff (DSS). Two interview guides were created to: 1) gain a broader systematic perspective from management, and 2) gain a “front line” DSS perspective.
Results: Three themes emerged from the data; ageing awareness, ageing perceptions, and determinants of ageing. Ageing was predominately viewed as a negative experience, and participants did not feel comfortable to engage people ageing with ID in health initiatives due to lack of knowledge and training.
Implications: It is unclear how to best support people with ID as they age, however, organisations will have to re-address the way they provide community-based health initiatives for this group. It is vitally important that ID agencies be proactive in adapting polices, services, and procedures to effectively support healthy ageing for people with ID.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Abstract
• Conference Name: The World Congress of the International Association for the Scientif ic Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD) 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jun 27, 2019
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Deposit Date: Apr 18, 2024
• Print ISSN: 0964-2633
• Publisher: Wiley
• Volume: 63
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 650
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12651
• Keywords: Community, Health, Participation, Group homes
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/3596308