Ageing with an intellectual disability in rural areas

Title
Ageing with an intellectual disability in rural areas
Publication Date
2012
Author(s)
Wark, Stuart
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5366-1860
Email: stuart.wark@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:swark5
Hussain, Rafat
Edwards, Helen
Editor
Editor(s): A J Holland and Sally-Ann Cooper
Type of document
Conference Publication
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Series
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2788.2012.01583_2.x
UNE publication id
une:12424
Abstract
Aim: In recent years, a combination of factors have seen life expectancies for people with intellectual disabilities increase dramatically. While this improvement is naturally a very desirable outcome, there are limited policy frameworks and little information regarding the impact of rurality on this relatively new phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding from Australian disability-support staff in rural areas regarding the most important issues facing them as they support people with intellectual disabilities who are ageing. Method: A three-round Delphi research model was utilised over a period of twelve months. The participant group (N = 31) included representatives from fourteen different rurally-based disability service agencies. Results and Conclusions: A thematic analysis identified specific areas of concern including funding, inadequate/inappropriate training, access to relevant services, medical/health problems, time constraints, and family dynamics. The results detail a number of important items relating to the ageing of people with intellectual disabilities in rural localities. The findings have implications for Government Departments, disability service providers, and training entities, in both the delivery of services to individuals with intellectual disabilities who are ageing and the training of the staff who support this cohort of people.
Link
Citation
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 56(7-8), p. 668-668
ISSN
1365-2788
0964-2633
Start page
668
End page
668

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