Aging Adult Living With Intellectual Disabilities

Running head: AGING ADULT LIVING WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
AGEING ADULT LIVING WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
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AGING ADULT LIVING WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES1
Aging Adult Living with Intellectual Disabilities
Introduction
According to the World Population Prospects: the 2019 Revision, one out of six
people will be over the age of 65 years by 2050 that indicates that 16% of the world
population will belong to the older generation (Un.org, 2020). This is one of the most
prevalent population because it is increasing in number at a drastic manner. Moreover, a sub-
population that is stated to be important for discussion is people above the age of years with
intellectual disability (ID). This is because the burden of mental retardation is more
significant in today’s population and due to advancement in technology and medical science.
One of the significant facts found in 2018 was people belong to age 65 or above had
outnumbered children under five years in a global context. Heller (2017) stated that the
population of adults of 65 years or more with ID is growing in a drastic manner and is
estimated to be 1.4 million by 2030. In North America, 6.5 million people have an
intellectual disability and the number of adults over 65 years old is increasing at a high rate in
the country. Bonder and Dal Bello-Haas (2017) opined that social, environmental, cultural
and development factors are found to have a significant impact on the expression of
behavioural and psychiatric disorders among older adults having ID. The demographic
obligations of the longer life expectancy of old people of more than 65 years with low mental
intelligence and the ageing of this section of people are growing challenges that need to be
addressed. An increasing number of adults over the age of 65 years with ID experience more
health issues than healthy people of the same age. This is because these people have low
mental ability and were supported by someone early however, with age, the dependency level
increased that affected the health and well-being. The aim of the essay is to explore the facet
on the emerging subpopulation of an older adult above the age group 65 years suffering from

AGING ADULT LIVING WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES2
ID. This will specifically address the issues faced by the subpopulation, nursing intervention
and implications on the large system.
Literature Review
According to the study conducted by van Schijndel‐Speet, Evenhuis, van Wijck, van
Montfort and Echteld (2017), the level of physical activity of older people having ID is
observed to be extremely low; thus, their fitness level is invariable beneath the accepted
standard of an older people having normal intelligence level or adults having other physical
issues. Thus, the study intended to understand the impact of physical activity among such
populations. Cluster-Randomized clinical trials were conducted where it was found that there
was a significant effect on muscular strength, physical activities, heart rate, blood pressure,
cognitive function and cholesterol level of the respondents thus, highlighting the importance
of physical programs on the target population. Burke, McCallion, Carroll, Walsh and
McCarron (2017) opined that there was no impact on the body balance, weight, and glucose,
mobility, walking speed, instrumental activities and depression level. Therefore, these
programs have a small effect on the research sample; however, the findings were generalised
in nature. The implementation of evidence-based programs can be recommended for old
adults with ID. The authors Axmon, Björne, Nylander and Ahlström (2018) bring some
information about the background of the problem and it was found that in some cases, people
develop dementia that presents a large number of chronic disability and physical health
issues. The capacity of self-directed activity was low among the elderly people and the
symptoms demonstrated by these people were reduced capacity of enjoying, irritability and
violent behaviour. Thus, it indicates an outlook of the strategic perception of the changes in
differential survival. In a similar study conducted by Bowers, Webber and Bigby (2014)
explore the way the staff of group home in Victoria, Australia, had responded to the needs
and demands of the residents with ID while they develop health conditions related to age. The

AGING ADULT LIVING WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES3
study was conducted on 83 staff for three years in 17 group homes. The use of dimensional
analysis, grounded theory and guided data collection and analysis method was employed. The
findings indicated there is a lack of knowledge with respect to the process of ageing and the
absence of a policy that affected timely diagnosis and prognosis for older people with ID. As
per the findings of Burke, McCallion, Carroll, Walsh and McCarron (2017), there is a risk of
osteoporosis among old people despite if the low level of reports related to doctor’s
diagnosis. Since it is a multifactorial disorder, thus, it offers various kinds of physical
disability due to a reduction in bone density limiting movement. There is a need for raising
the issue of unpreparedness of group home staffs taking care of old people with the ID that is
rooted in a medical model of disability. As per the study of McCausland et al. (2018), elderly
belonging to the age group of more than 65 years or more does not have any medical or
biological evidence to support them in terms of dietary intake. It was found that the quality of
diet and nutrient intake is poor among older adults living in in-group homes. Therefore, it is
important to have educational and policy awareness o improve the prospect of diet among old
people with ID. Axmon, Björne, Nylander and Ahlström (2018) opined that one of the most
significant issues that are faced by subpopulation, older people with an intellectual disability
is transportation, which is important for social participation. Due to limitation, these people
are more prone to loneliness and isolation thus, leading to mental depression and exclusion
among these people. The study conducted by McCausland et al. (2019) specifically targeted
on the old people with ID in Ireland stated that this section depends on other for transporting
from one place to other and used mode, staff-supported transport more frequently that did not
exhibit any longitudinal change. The use of public transportation is secondary in nature and
depend on the level of intellectual in accessing either on an independent or dependent
manner. In another study conducted by AlMutairi et al. (2019), it can be seen that chronic
constipation is an issue among old people of 65 years or more with ID and it has a negative