Chapter 10; Individuals with Developmental Disabilities and Their Caregivers

SUMMARY

Adults with Developmental Disabilities (DD) are experiencing increased longevity and the projected number of older persons with DD is expected to double by 2020. As a result, concerns have been raised that agencies and professional staff are ill-prepared to address the increased needs of an older population with lifelong disabilities. The caregiving life of familis of person with DD now spans multiple decades and is increasingly a feature of advanced age for parents and grandparents, and of old age for siblings. Problem behaviors, onset or poor management of mental health concerns and inadequate planning for their aging years are the biggest barriers to successful aging for persons with developmental disabilities. However, psychosocial interventions have the potential to alleviate these barriers and promote positive aging for older persons with developmental disabilities. The evidence for the effectiveness of such interventions will be examined within this article.

KEYWORDS:

• Developmental disabilities
• intellectual disabilities
• caregiving
• futures planning