1. [Timely consideration of future care; advance care planning for people with intellectual disabilities].
- Author
-
Wagemans AA and van Bokhoven MA
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Advance Care Planning ethics, Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System psychology, Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System rehabilitation, Decision Making ethics, Disability Evaluation, Down Syndrome psychology, Down Syndrome rehabilitation, Ethics, Medical, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nervous System Malformations psychology, Nervous System Malformations rehabilitation, Palliative Care ethics, Palliative Care psychology, Patient Compliance psychology, Advance Care Planning organization & administration, Intellectual Disability psychology, Intellectual Disability rehabilitation, Quality of Life psychology
- Abstract
People with intellectual disabilities (IDs) are often unable to decide for themselves regarding complex medical decisions, and need assistance from representatives, often next-of-kin. People with IDs are often frail. This frailty is characterized on the one hand by health problems, on the other hand by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and in adaptive behaviour. In this group of people, when compared to the general population, the principles of palliative care are applicable more often and over a longer period. Advance care planning should be considered not only at the end of life, but at each stage where decisions have to be made that may affect quality of life. In this article, we present three patient cases to illustrate the complexity of the process and the commitment of representatives and other key stakeholders.
- Published
- 2018