Healthy Ageing in People with Intellectual Disabilities from Managers’ Perspective: A Qualitative Study (original) (raw)
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Ambivalence among staff regarding ageing with intellectual disabilities: Experiences and reflections
Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 2019
This study explores the experiences and reflections of staff in intellectual disability (ID) services concerning ageing with ID. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 24 staff members in group homes and daily activity centres. The findings showed that the staff were uncertain about the signs of ageing in people with intellectual disabilities; they compared the life conditions of these people with conditions in older people without intellectual disabilities. Their emphasis on an active lifestyle was very strong. The staff members also mentioned uncertainty about how to facilitate assistive devices and whether ‘ageing in place’ was the best solution. The overall theme was manifested as ambivalence where notions of older people with intellectual disabilities seemed incompatible with notions of old age in general and could be explained by the theoretical concept of age coding. The findings of this study indicate the need to provide education about ageing to staff working in ID serv...
Lived experiences of ageing and later life in older people with intellectual disabilities
Ageing and Society, 2013
ABSTRACTThe aim of this article is to explore how older people with intellectual disability (ID), who live in group accommodation, describe their lived experience in relation to ageing and later life. The article is based on a study with a phenomenological approach, grounded on the concept of life-world. Individual, qualitative interviews were conducted with 12 people with ID (five men, seven women), between the ages of 48 and 71 (mean=64), who lived in four different group accommodation units in southern Sweden. A descriptive phenomenological analysis method was used, which disclosed a structure consisting of themes and sub-themes. The findings of the study reveal the informants' lived experience of ageing and later life as a multifaceted phenomenon, expressed through the two themes, ‘age as a process of change’ and ‘existential aspects of ageing’, each with three sub-themes. The body is an essential element in their experience of ageing and growing old, and in how this experie...
Research: Issues of active ageing: Perceptions of older people with lifelong intellectual disability
Australasian Journal on Ageing, 2008
The study aimed to (1) investigate the lived experienced of older people with lifelong intellectual disability and (2) explore the meaning of active ageing for this group. Methods: Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 16 service users (people with lifelong intellectual disability aged 50+ years); 16 service providers and 16 key informal network members from regional/rural and urban areas in Queensland and Victoria. Results: Themes identified: being empowered, being actively involved, having a sense of security, maintaining skills and learning, having congenial living arrangements, having optimal health and fitness, being safe and feeling safe and having satisfying relationships and support. Conclusions: Service users wanted to "keep on keeping-on" in areas of life that gave them pleasure rather than discontinuing them because of age. They wanted more control over issues affecting their lives and to be given meaningful roles. Mental stimulation, companionship, reliable support and safety were valued by this group.
Issues of active ageing: Perceptions of older people with lifelong intellectual disability
Australasian Journal on Ageing, 2008
Objective(s): The study aimed to investigate the lived experiences of older people with lifelong intellectual disability and to explore the meaning of active ageing for this group.Methods: Data were collected using semistructured interviews with 16 service users (people with lifelong intellectual disability aged 50+ years); 16 service providers and 16 key informal network members from regional/rural and urban areas in Queensland and Victoria.Results: Themes identified: being empowered, being actively involved, having a sense of security, maintaining skills and learning, having congenial living arrangements, having optimal health and fitness, being safe and feeling safe and having satisfying relationships and support.Conclusions: Service users wanted to ‘keep on keeping-on’ in areas of life that gave them pleasure rather than discontinuing them because of age. They wanted more control over issues affecting their lives and to be given meaningful roles. Mental stimulation, companionship, reliable support and safety were valued by this group.
People with intellectual disability who are ageing: Perceived needs assessment
International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 2017
Background/Objective: Ageing and progressive increase in life expectancy in people with intellectual disability present significant challenges. The present study is to examine the needs that arise in the aging process of this population. To detect these needs is fundamental to ensure personal wellbeing; almost no psychometrically sound instruments have been developed. Method: A structured interview was developed and evaluated by a panel of 20 experts to obtain evidence of content validity. The interview was then applied to 1,173 people with intellectual disability. The ages ranged from 35 to 80 (M = 52.27; SD = 7.5). Results: The interview consisted of 93 items evaluating four areas: perceived needs, personal problems, future perspectives, and solutions required. The results demonstrated the proximity and relationship of the various needs evaluated. In addition it was observed that those with intellectual disability who were older, male and users of residential services tended to indicate more needs, problems, and required more solutions. Conclusions: The instrument has adequate evidence of validity, allowing the evaluation of specific needs of people with intellectual disability. The results advocate the design of transversal intervention policies in order to effectively meet the needs and requirements of this population.
Ageing carers and intellectual disability: a scoping review
Quality in Ageing and Older Adults
Purpose Individuals with intellectual disability(ies) are living longer contributing to an overall increase in the average age of caregivers. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on the physical, social and psychological needs of ageing carers of individuals with intellectual disability(ies) in the UK. Design/methodology/approach A scoping review framework was used to identify literature from eleven databases, the grey literature and the references lists of relevant studies. Only primary research studies that discussed the needs of non-professional carers, aged 65+ years old, of individuals with intellectual disability(ies) in the UK were included. No date restrictions were applied. Thematic analysis was used to narratively synthesise findings. Findings Six studies were included. Five key themes were identified: Living with fear, lack of information, rebuilding trust, proactive professional involvement and being ignored. Housing and support information is not commun...
Social impact of ageing in people with intellectual disabilities
Introduction: People with intellectual disabilities have a longer life expectancy than ever before, which is resulting in an increase in population of the elderly in this group. There is scant information about ageing related issues in this population especial the psychosocial aspects. Aims: The objectives of the review is to highlight the social impact related to ageing in the growing population of the individuals with intellectual disabilities in different areas and cultures and to suggest ways of addressing any difficulties. Methods: Relevant articles were searched from electronic databases. Results: There is a lack of appropriate studies to compare the care and health status for the elderly with learning disabilities in developed and developing countries. In different parts of the world those growing old with learning disabilities are managed in different ways; some are placed in specialist care homes while others are cared for by their families. There is inadequate support for this population which is leading to social isolation and marginalization and this is a major concern. Conclusion: Appropriate emphasis for the needs of the growing ageing intellectual disability population is required. Culturally appropriate actions to deal with social isolation and to develop facilities for elderly with learning disability are to be explored and put into place. There is a need to expand support for family and community care givers. Developing and improving the strategies that would address the needs will need a multidisciplinary effort.
Caring for older people with an intellectual disability: A systematic review
This review critically evaluates the available research literature on aging among people with an intellectual disability. 42 papers meeting the review inclusion criteria are presented under three themes: studies with a service user perspective , studies of carers of older people with ID and studies of service provision for older people with ID (15). User view specific findings relate to concerns about accommodation; experiences of services; and perceptions of aging; with a common underlying finding from all user focused themes that of unmet need. Carer specific findings relate to fear of the future; experiences of older carers; and planning for the future. Services themes reflect the debate over specialist or generalist services as people age; accommodation; retirement from day services; and staff training. Overall this review reveals a lack of robust research evidence concerning the lives of older people with ID and a need for more research that directly engages with older people with ID and their carers.
Disability & Society, 2010
The purpose of this study was to explore how supervisors in group homes caring for people with intellectual disability responded to the development of age-related health changes in their residents. Ten group home supervisors working in the disability sector were interviewed once. Data were analysed using Dimensional Analysis. The study identified several factors related to whether a resident could stay 'at home' or would need to be moved to residential aged care (nursing home) including: nature and extent of group home resources, group home staff comfort with residents' health changes, staff skill at navigating the intersection between the disability and ageing sectors, and the supervisor's philosophy of care. The ability of older people with an intellectual disability to 'age in place' is affected by staff knowledge about and comfort with age-related illnesses, staff skills at navigating formal services, staffing flexibility, and the philosophy of group home supervisors. Despite the growing international concern for the rights of people with disability, particularly in relation to decision making, questions about the older person's choice of residence and participation in decision making about what was best for them, were almost nonexistent. Rather, decisions were made based on what was considered to be in 'the best interest'.