Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 21
Lived experiences of ageing and later life in older people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- KÅHLIN Ida, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 35(3), 2015, pp.602-628.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Draws on the qualitative interviews with 12 people with intellectual disabilities (five men, seven women) 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. Participants were aged between the ages of 48 and 71 (mean=64) and 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 reveal the informants' lived experience of ageing and later life as a multifaceted phenomenon, expressed through the two themes. The first theme 'Age as a process of change’, included the sub-themes of bodily functions and health, activity and participation; and the supporting environment. The second theme ‘existential aspects of ageing’, included being old, becoming like others, and death and dying. The body is an essential element in their experience of ageing and growing old, and in how this experience is expressed. The study also found social, cultural and historical dimensions of the life-world to be important in the informants' experience of ageing and later life. This supports understanding of the existence of a collective life-world for older people with ID, the unique experiences the informants share because of their disability and its consequences for their lifecourse. (Edited publisher abstract)
Caring for a child with learning disabilities: over a prolonged period of time: an exploratory survey on the experiences and health of older parent carers living in Scotland
- Authors:
- CAIRNS Deborah, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 27(5), 2014, pp.471-480.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
To examine the impacts of a lifetime of caring on older parents of offspring with learning disabilities an exploratory postal survey was completed by 100 older parent carers. The survey including the Medical Outcome Study (Short Form) 36 version 2 (SF-36v2). The reported survey is part of a larger mixed method study including in-depth interviews. The majority of respondents (n = 91) reported caring for 50 h or more per week with multiple caregiving duties. While the SF-36v2 reported physical health of older parent carers to be similar to UK norms, their mental health was significantly reduced. The findings highlight the vulnerability of ageing parents of offspring with learning disabilities. This previously underreported situation warrants further investigation and urgent attention from health and social care agencies and professionals. (Edited publisher abstract)
Ageing and health status in adults with intellectual disabilities: results of the European Pomona II study
- Authors:
- HAVEMAN Meindert, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 36(1), March 2011, pp.49-60.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
POMONA II was a European Commission funded public health project collecting information from 14 countries using a set of key health indicators specifically relevant for people with intellectual disabilities. This research focused on age-specific differences relating to environmental and lifestyle factors and the 17 medical conditions measured by the POMONA Checklist of Health Indicators. The article describes how information was collected using the POMONA Health Interview Survey and Evaluation Form from a sample of 1,253 participants in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. It then presents the results of the analysis, with tables showing characteristics of people with intellectual disabilities in the study, frequency of social contacts with relatives or friends according to age, lifestyle risk factors in people with intellectual disabilities according to age, and general and age-specific prevalence rates of health problems. The authors discuss how healthy older adults with intellectual disabilities are with regard to lifestyle factors, and whether there are health disparities between older adults with and without intellectual disabilities. They note that some evidence of health disparities was found for older people with intellectual disabilities, particularly in terms of under diagnosed or inadequately managed preventable health conditions.
Characterisation of user-defined health status in older adults with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- STARR J. M., MARSDEN L.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 52(6), June 2008, pp.483-489.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Older adults with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) have an excess disease burden that standard health assessments are designed to detect. Older adults with ID have a broader concept of health with dimensions of well being in addition to absence of disease in line with the World Health Organization's health definition. This study sought to characterise user-defined health status in a sample of older adults with ID. A user-led health assessment was administered to 57 adults with ID aged 40 years and over. Cluster analysis on user-defined health themes of participation, nutrition and hygiene/self-care identified clear separation of participants into a healthier and a less healthy group. Disease burden and medication use were greater in the less healthy group. The healthier group were taller, stronger and had better vision than the less healthy group. Constipation, urinary incontinence and faecal incontinence were commoner in the less healthy group. There were few significant differences between health groups on the majority of standard physical-examination items. There is considerable overlap between user-defined health and that assessed by standard instruments. In addition, user-defined health encompasses aspects of physical fitness not captured by traditional disease-based health models.
Healthy ageing - adults with intellectual disabilities: ageing and social policy
- Authors:
- HOGG J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 14(3), 2001, pp.229-255.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This report has been prepared by the Ageing Special Interest Research Group of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities (IASSID) in collaboration with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence and the Programme on Ageing and Health, World Health Organisation (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland. It discusses ageing, social and health policy, as it affects people with intellectual disabilities as they get older and live into old age. Considers the necessary policies and practices conducive to ensuring that older people with learning disabilities are treated in a manner that is acceptable to them and is compatible with the 'International Plan of Action on Ageing'.
Impact of mid-life symptoms of alcoholism on the health and wellbeing of aging parents of adults with disabilities
- Authors:
- GHOSHA Subharati, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 59(1), 2016, pp.56-72.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The study examined the effect of adult children’s disability on parents’ physical health in later life and the extent to which parents’ symptoms of alcoholism in mid-life moderates the link between children’s disability and later life parental health. Analyses are based on data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. The analytic sample included parents of children with developmental disabilities (n = 145) or mental health problems (n = 200) and 2,432 parents of unaffected children. The results showed that the negative health consequences in later life of having a child with a developmental disability were greater for those who showed more symptoms of alcoholism in mid-life. However, symptoms of alcoholism in mid-life did not significantly moderate the impact of an adult child’s mental health problems on parents’ later life physical health. The findings suggest a potential area where gerontological social workers could intervene, given the negative impact of symptoms of alcoholism on the health of ageing parents of children with a disability who may be significantly more susceptible to the negative health impacts of alcohol compared to their younger counterparts. (Edited publisher abstract)
A five-country comparative review of accommodation support policies for older people with intellectual disability
- Author:
- BIGBY Christine
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 7(1), March 2010, pp.3-15.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Most developed countries have social policies which consider people with intellectual disability as citizens with equal rights, which suggest they should share similar goals to a healthy and active older person in the general community, and an expectation of the necessary supports to achieve this. This article, comparing the development and implementation of accommodation support programmes for people aging with intellectual disabilities in five modern welfare states (Australia, Canada, Ireland, the UK, and the US), describes the limited development of policies in this area and suggests possible reasons why this is the case. A review of the literature on aging policies for people with intellectual disability was conducted, which suggested that despite consistent identification of similar broad policy issues and overarching goals, little progress has been made in the development of more specific policies or implementation strategies to address issues associated with accommodation support as people age. The author concludes that policy debates which have conceptualised the problem as ageing in place and the shared responsibility of the care and disability sectors may have detracted from either sector leading the development of formulating, implementing, and resourcing a strong policy framework.
Major health risks in aging persons with intellectual disabilities: an overview of recent studies
- Authors:
- HAVEMAN Meindert, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 7(1), March 2010, pp.59-69.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study examines the health-related literature on aging and intellectual disabilities (ID), with specific focus on examining findings on age-associated health risk factors, such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal health issues, and oral health. It also examined studies of lifestyle health risks, primarily the contributions to obesity. While the review found varying differences in the frequency of health risk factors, significant evidence is appearing that cardiovascular disease is as common among people with ID and is as common a cause of death as in the general population, and that the variations in prevalence were culturally dependent. Digestive system problems were also apparent with high occurrence rates of helicobacter pylori, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and constipation. In summary the authors show that this review revealed a growing body of work on health risk factors, such as overweight and obesity, which are often linked to the onset of a variety of diseases and impairing conditions. Healthier lifestyles, better nutrition and more exercise, and greater observation of health risks were seen as ways to improve the health status of older people with ID.
A pilot of a gerontological advanced practice nurse preventive intervention
- Authors:
- HAHN Joan Earle, ARONOW Harriet Udin
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 18(2), June 2005, pp.131-142.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Persons with an intellectual and developmental disability frequently face barriers in accessing preventive services in community-based health care systems. This American study presents a description of an advanced practice nurse (APN) intervention used in a pilot study that explored the feasibility of using an in-home preventive model based on a comprehensive geriatric assessment with persons ageing with an intellectual and developmental disability. The APN intervention was fully provided to a sub-sample (n = 70) of 201 participants with an intellectual and developmental disability enrolled in a programme called 'Stay Well and Healthy!' The APN intervention included an initial home visit for a comprehensive geriatric assessment with follow-up home visits to review health status and assess adherence with recommendations and provide education and support to promote health and prevent functional decline. Advanced practice nurses identified a number of active health-related problems for persons ageing with an intellectual and developmental disability that had potential effects on function and survival. The majority of recommendations were for clinical preventive services and self-care for health-related issues. This study showed that there were problems consistent with persons ageing with an intellectual and developmental disability and older adults without disability. The in-home preventive APN intervention to promote healthy ageing and reduce health disparities in this population is feasible, needed, and warrants further study.
Healthy ageing - adults with intellectual disabilities: women's health and related issues
- Authors:
- WALSH P.N., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 14(3), 2001, pp.195-217.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This report has been prepared by the Ageing Special Interest Research Group of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities (IASSID) in collaboration with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence and the Programme on Ageing and Health, World Health Organisation (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland. Explores factors related to well-being and quality of life for women, examines and defines sex-linked differences in their life experiences and opportunities and to define their distinctive vulnerabilities - including research on health status and access to healthcare.