Ageing in people with intellectual disability as it is understood by group home staff

ABSTRACT

Background The number of older residents in group homes for people with intellectual disability (ID) is increasing. This interview study was focused on how group home staff address issues of ageing and being old among people with ID.

Method Twelve members of staff at 4 different group homes in Sweden were interviewed.

Results Findings revealed old age as something unarticulated in the group home. Group home staff felt unprepared to meet age-related changes in residents. The study also revealed that group home staff had a one-tracked way of describing the process of ageing among people with ID, which was seemingly rooted in a medical paradigm of disability.

Conclusion Based on this study's findings, we suggest that there is a need to raise issues and give guidance related to ageing and ID in disability policy documents to support the development of a formal culture that addresses old age and ID in disability services.

KEYWORDS:

• intellectual disability
• ageing
• later life
• staff
• group home