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The Intellectually Disabled and Coping with Old Age

by | Feb 18, 2025 | Blog, Uncategorised

Aging is a natural process that brings about physical, emotional, and social challenges for all human beings. But for individuals with intellectual disabilities, aging can present particularly complex problems. Intellectually disabled individuals may be able to cope on their own when younger, but as they age, like all people, they require greater care – especially if they have needed specialised care during the course of their lives.

Old age coupled with intellectual disabilities calls for coping strategies that are more adaptive, sensitive and robust. To ensure the best ways to support their wellbeing, dignity, and quality of life means understanding the unique ways in which aging specifically affects intellectually disabled individuals.

Physical and health challenges

  • As individuals with ID age, they may experience health issues at an accelerated rate compared to the general population. Conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and arthritis tend to appear earlier in individuals with ID. Hearing and vision impairments can also impact ability to communicate and navigate the environment safely.
  • As with all people as they age, muscle weakness, joint pain, and balance problems may make movement more difficult, leading to increased risks of falls and injuries. Some intellectual disabilities, such as Down syndrome, are associated with a higher risk of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Emotional and psychological wellbeing

  • Many individuals with ID prefer routine, and aging may necessitate changes that disrupt their sense of stability. These kinds of changes must be handled with care and understanding. As caregivers, family and friends age or pass away, individuals with ID may experience loneliness and emotional distress – which can be seriously exacerbated by their disabilities. This means anxiety and depression may be more common among this group, necessitating appropriate mental health interventions.

Social and community support

  • There is a crucial need to nurture a sense of social inclusion and belonging. Programmes for improving connections are vital; senior centres, adult day programmes, and social clubs designed for individuals with disabilities can provide opportunities for engagement and companionship that are particularly valuable as people age.
  • Encouraging family involvement and ensuring continuity in caregiving will assist in maintaining emotional stability. Older people with ID must be encouraged to participate in activities such as art, music therapy, and various adapted sports – all of which can help to promote mental stimulation and physical health.

Housing and long-term care

  • This is particularly difficult for aging ID persons. It is important that as far as possible intellectually disabled people remain in their familiar environments. Home modifications and professional support can assist to keep the status quo for as long as possible.
  • But once it is important to move an individual, it is key to ensure that they are moved to specialised living facilities able to cater to their unique needs as an ID person, and as an individual. This is the stage where assessments must be made on those who require higher levels of medical care, and selecting the nursing home with the right specialisation.

Coping strategies and adaptive approaches

  • As with anybody else, regular medical check-ups must be encouraged, along with physical exercise, and proper nutrition. Longevity and wellbeing are rewards that all ID people can access through care and sensible attention. Memory games, storytelling, and puzzles can help maintain cognitive function and delay cognitive decline.
  • Counselling, support groups, and therapy can help individuals to express and process their emotions effectively. And equally important, using adaptive devices, such as hearing aids, voice-assisted technology, and mobility aids, can enhance independence.

Aging with an intellectual disability calls for comprehensive and compassionate approaches. Today we have the tools and support to ensure that individuals with ID experience aging with dignity and support. Providing tailored care and opportunities for continued engagement will help them navigate old age with the necessary resilience and a higher quality of life.

The story of Sunfield Home

Chris and Lynne Bennett, parents of a young girl with Down Syndrome, pursued their dream of establishing a home for their daughter and other intellectually disabled young adults in the Western Cape. Together with other parents, they founded the Sunfield Home in Wellington, providing a loving and nurturing environment for over 100 residents and day-care adult individuals.

Each individual is screened to evaluate their strengths and allocate activities according to their abilities. A protective workshop has been established where contract work is undertaken, as well as arts and crafts activities. An employment scheme has also been developed and as a result permanent and successful positions have been found within the surrounding wine and cheese industries.

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