ERIC Number: EJ883402
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Jun
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0964-2633
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Placement, Relocation and End of Life Issues in Aging Adults with and without Down's Syndrome: A Retrospective Study
Patti, P.; Amble, K.; Flory, M.
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, v54 n6 p538-546 Jun 2010
Background: Aging adults with Down's syndrome (DS) experience more relocations and other life events than adults with intellectual disabilities aged 50 and older without DS. Age-related functional decline and the higher incidence of dementia were implicated as the contributing factors that led to relocation and nursing home placement. Method: A retrospective study of adults with intellectual disabilities who were born prior to the year 1946 was conducted to analyse the number of relocations experienced over a 5- and 10-year period. The cohort consisted of 140 individuals (61 with DS between ages 50-71 years, and 79 without DS between ages 57-89 years) who had been referred to a diagnostic and research clinic. Results: Analyses revealed the number of relocations over a 5- and 10-year period were significantly greater in the DS group. Placement in a nursing home for end of life care was significantly higher in the DS group whereas the majority (90%) in the non-DS group remained in a group home setting. Mortality was significantly earlier in the DS group with the mean age at death to be 61.4 years compared with 73.2 years in the non-DS group. Conclusions: The present results suggest that aging adults with DS encounter more relocations, and are more likely to have their final placement for end of life care in a nursing home. In contrast, the adults without DS were subjected to less relocation and remained in the same group home setting.
Descriptors: Dementia, Down Syndrome, Group Homes, Nursing Homes, Health Facilities, Relocation, Death, Aging (Individuals), Older Adults, Comparative Analysis, Daily Living Skills
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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