Aging Adults With Lifelong Disabilities

It's possible to develop a disability or a physical impairment at any age. Some older adults have endured a loved one's infirmity for decades. Childhood-onset diseases and disorders include Type 1 diabetes, chronic lung disease, and post-polio syndrome. Spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis are a few other diseases and conditions that might manifest in adulthood. And then there are impairments primarily exclusive to the elderly, like osteoporosis. Some debilitating illnesses worsen over time, while others remain stable, adding another layer of complexity.

People of any age with a functional limitation because of a health condition are considered "aging with disability," regardless of whether that limitation is temporary or permanent, progressing or not. Still, even those who fall within the category of "the elderly with a handicap" cannot be lumped together. 

Secondary medical issues are more common among people whose disabilities manifested earlier in life (e.g., the development of cardiovascular disease in spinal cord injury patients). For example, physical impairment often leads to secondary depression. Physical, social, and environmental changes are part of the aging process, which may be considered a constant readjustment. People with disabilities may have to deal with the onset of additional health problems as they age, the worsening of existing conditions as they age, or a more rapid rate of physical decline than their non-disabled counterparts (this is referred to as "aging fast"). 

People with permanent impairments in the United States now enjoy longer life expectancies than they did a generation ago because of medical progress. Late-onset impairments have also increased in frequency, along with the soaring numbers of people in their later years. As a result, the number of elderly Americans who are also disabled is growing, and this is a demographic with particular challenges.

Community Support For Aging Adults With Lifelong Disabilities

It has been well documented in the literature that activities aimed at prevention lead to a higher quality of life and lower costs associated with medical care. According to research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who have disabilities require access to health care as well as health programs to maintain their health, participate in activities of daily living, and be included in their communities. People who have disabilities require health care that caters to their needs as a whole person, not just as an individual who happens to have a disability, to maintain their health. 

Simply because a person has a disability does not mean they are unhealthy or unable to be healthy. Everyone, regardless of the severity of their disability, needs access to the resources and information they need to make decisions that will improve their health and prevent illness. Most people can either maintain their current fitness level or improve it by acquiring knowledge about and practicing healthy lifestyles. These lifestyles involve committing to regular medical checkups, prudent use of medications, and eating healthy foods in healthy portions. To facilitate more accessibility to support people with disabilities and older adults, the federal government has encouraged its network of Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) to include health promotion and disease prevention activities as part of its initiatives to streamline access to these types of services and supports. ADRCs have the potential to improve health by providing individuals and families with the information, assistance, and resources necessary to support health-related planning and informed decision-making regarding wellness and independence. Grantmakers can also back these efforts by providing service to community health outreach programs that target older adults and persons with disabilities, funding the development of health education resources, promoting vaccination programs, and funding nutrition education programs.

Disabilities And Health Limitations

Environmental factors that, either by their absence or their presence, contribute to or exacerbate a person's impairment Examples of such factors are: 1. an inaccessible physical environment 2. an absence of appropriate assistive technology (assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices); and 3. people's negative attitudes toward those with disabilities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that persons with impairments have a much lower employment rate. While 76.5% of the population was employed in 2017, those without disabilities had nearly double the number (35.5% vs. 18.5%) of working-age adults without disabilities.

Prevalence of Dementia And Its Impact On Intellectual Disability Dervices

A nationwide study found 3% of those aged 40 and older were affected by dementia, 6% of those aged 60 and older were affected by dementia, and 12% of those aged 80 and older were impacted by dementia. Down syndrome was found in 22% of people aged 40 and older but in 56% of those aged 60 and older. The incidence of Down syndrome increased considerably after the age of 60. The 1960s have been identified as the observable beginning date (early 50s for those with Down syndrome). Most patients were found to have Alzheimer's disease-related dementia as their underlying condition. 

Since the prevalence of dementia is expected to rise proportionately with the increase in lifespan among adults with intellectual impairments, care systems will need to boost the "index of suspicion" among staff and families. That can be done by becoming "dementia competent" and strengthening diagnostic and technological resources, in addition to enhancing care management supports meant to extend the "aging in place" of persons affected by dementia. This is because it is predicted that the prevalence of dementia will rise proportionately with the increase in lifespan.

Siblings of Adults with Mental Retardation

According to research, over sixty percent of the siblings of persons who suffered from mental retardation anticipated taking on primary caregiving responsibilities in the future. Still, just one-third of the siblings of adults who had mental illness shared this expectation. In both sets of participants' cases, the engagement of siblings was restricted by the presence of several conflicting family duties; on the other hand, siblings were more likely to participate when they lived closer to their families of origin.

The demands and limitations of older people around the age of 45 and 60, in addition to the degree of intimacy with the family of origin, are factors that have a role in determining the level of present and future engagement by siblings of individuals who have impairments. These relationships have a significant role in determining the degree to which siblings are involved in caring for a brother or sister with a disability.

Supporting Adults With Intellectual Disabilities And Their Families

Disability and mental health service providers play a significant part in many people with disabilities' lives, but they seldom consider their unique needs as parents. Studies demonstrate that most mental health organizations don't recognize which clients are parents, and 80% don't have processes for pregnant or parenting clients. Other disability service providers probably would too. Because parents with disabilities have extensive contact with service providers, their parenting duties must be recognized.

Aging Family Caregivers: Needs And Policy Concerns

Studies analyzing the outcomes of lifetime caregiving show that most families can effectively adjust to living with a disabled family member. On the other hand, specific households are more vulnerable to emotional and physical harm. Members of underrepresented groups and the families of persons with behavioral problems are included. Mothers sometimes stop working or cut back on their hours to take care of their children, and children with disabilities are more likely to live at home with their parents well into adulthood. That can harm the family's finances. Federal and provincial programs in the fields of developmental disabilities and aging services are working to alleviate these issues' strain on families.