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Data specifically comparing outcomes for people with and without intellectual disability is limited. This paper reports perceived health and wellbeing of older Australians resident in metropolitan and rural locations in New South Wales and Queensland. Respondents were community-residing individuals with intellectual disability and mainstream age peers [age = 60]. Measures included SF12; Cummings well-being scales; DSSI; Adverse Life Events; and financial hardship status. The sample was composed of 391 adults with intellectual disability and 920 age peers. Adults with intellectual disability were significantly more likely to note adverse life events, worse mental health, and lower levels of social support, but reported higher mean wellbeing scores and had higher scores for physical health. Results indicated higher likelihood of adults with intellectual disability reporting comparative disadvantage across multiple key areas when compared to age peers.

Background: Although a 'person-centred focus' is a legislated objective for both aged-care and disability services sectors in Australia, evidence suggests limited translation into systems and practices due to entrenched silos. This paper proposes a Best Practice Framework to mitigate these silos. Methods: Mixed-methods research comprising key informant interviews with major stakeholders across both sectors; a survey of people with/without intellectual disability aged 60+ years; qualitative in-depth interviews; and survey of health professionals. Results: There is an urgent need to develop inter-sectoral 'integrated care systems'. Key components include choice in accommodation; regular assessment of health and well-being indicators; development and adoption of nationally consistent policies/standards across integrated aged- and disability-care sectors; improved strategies for workforce planning; and upskilling of existing staff including place-based collaboration. Conclusions: An integrated service model requires collaboration on broader public policy instruments, appropriate planning and resourcing. A strategic shift is required to ensure better quality person-centred support systems.

Background: There is paucity of research from Australia about comorbidity in older people with intellectual disability (PwID). This paper examines the burden of chronic diseases and associated sociodemographic correlates in a cohort of PwID aged 60+. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was used with community-dwelling older PwID in urban/rural regions of two Australian states. Recruitment was undertaken via a multi-prong approach and each subject (N = 391; 236 urban/155 rural) personally interviewed. Results: Findings show older PwID experience considerable multimorbidity (X = 3.8; 53.5% had 2-6 conditions). Conditions included arthritis (40%), diabetes (26%), cardiovascular diseases (23.6%), asthma (16.1%), carcinomas (10.0%) and mental health disorders (34.5%). Conclusions: There was significant multimorbidity in older PwID, with evolution of life trajectories of select conditions associated with socioeconomic disadvantage and heath facility access barriers. Greater scrutiny of progressive health debilitation leading into older age and increased engagement by healthcare systems is required earlier in the lives of PwID.

Aims: Life expectancy for both sexes in Australia exceeds 80 years, with individuals with intellectual disability also increasingly living into older age. This research aimed to comparatively examine perceptions of staff supporting either older adults or age peers with lifelong intellectual disability. Methods: This project asked 420 medical, health, and support workers about training adequacy, health services access, and trigger points for premature institutionalisation. This paper is based on a subsample of 196 respondents who provided quantitative and qualitative responses. Results: There was considerable variation in confidence in supporting ageing individuals, while only 23.7% of doctors reported their training was adequate to support adults ageing with intellectual disability. A lack of services and poor carer health were identified as triggers for premature institutionalisation. Conclusions: The study revealed key differences in staff perceptions of support provision and training adequacy when comparing ageing individuals with intellectual disability to the general ageing population.

There is little research comparatively assessing prevalence of pain between older people either with or without intellectual disability. This paper explores health and social factors associated with chronic pain in these two groups. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. Inclusion criteria were adults either with or without intellectual disability, aged 60 years and older, and currently living in community-settings. Univariate and multivariable analyses were undertaken on a sample of 391 adults with intellectual disability and 920 adults without intellectual disability. Key findings included higher prevalence of pain in the intellectual disability group, along with higher rates of osteoarthritis, falls, oral health problems, and mood disorders. Mitigating risk factors for conditions that cause chronic pain in older adults is crucial. As longevity increases, the healthcare sector needs to prioritise chronic pain management for people with intellectual disabilities through appropriate treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data specifically comparing outcomes for people with and without intellectual disability is limited. This paper reports perceived health and wellbeing of older Australians resident in metropolitan and rural locations in New South Wales and Queensland. Respondents were community-residing individuals with intellectual disability and mainstream age peers [age ≥ 60]. Measures included SF12; Cummings well-being scales; DSSI; Adverse Life Events; and financial hardship status. The sample was composed of 391 adults with intellectual disability and 920 age peers. Adults with intellectual disability were significantly more likely to note adverse life events, worse mental health, and lower levels of social support, but reported higher mean wellbeing scores and had higher scores for physical health. Results indicated higher likelihood of adults with intellectual disability reporting comparative disadvantage across multiple key areas when compared to age peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Access to support services in rural areas is known to be problematic both in Australia, and in other countries around the world, but the majority of research on the population of people ageing with learning disability has so far focussed on metropolitan residents. The authors report about select aspects of the lived experience of older adults with learning disability resident in rural locations in two states of Australia. Materials and Methods: This pilot project examined data drawn from 34 semi-structured interviews conducted with 17 older adults and 17 carers. Responses were analysed for thematic areas. Results: It was observed that the capacity of certain rural areas to support meaningful choice-making was limited due to constraints of access to key services, including community-based aged care, generic and specialist health services, and both supported disability and aged-care residential options. Responses indicated that those living in both small- and medium-sized congregate care settings (such as group homes and residential aged-care facilities) had more limited choices and only partial (if any) control over their living situation. Conclusion: An understanding of the needs of older adults with learning disability resident in rural areas is important to ensure that both aged-care and disability support structures are built on individuals' needs.

Background: A dimension of the culture in group homes is staff regard for residents. In underperforming group homes, staff regard residents as being not "like us" (Bigby, Knox, Beadle-Brown, Clement & Mansell, 2012). We hypothesized the opposite pole of this dimension, in higher performing group homes, would be that staff regard residents positively. Method: Three in-depth qualitative case studies were conducted in higher performing group homes using participant observation, interviews and document review. Results: Consistent pattern of staff practices and talk, as well as artefacts, demonstrated staff had a positive regard for residents, who were seen as being "like us". Explicit and continuing attention was given to sustaining positive regard for residents in everyday staff practices and to turning abstract values into concrete realities. Conclusions: This positive cultural norm was established, operationalized and embedded through structures, such as a formal policy about language, and processes such as peer monitoring and practice leadership.

Background: The lifespan of women with intellectual disability (ID) has been steadily increasing, bringing new and unique challenges to these individuals and those who support them. Understanding these issues will help to improve support services for this population. Methods: Using inclusive research methods, 15 older women with ID were interviewed about their wellbeing and their views on growing older. Results: Interview data were analysed using the grounded theory approach. The core phenomenon identified through data analysis was "changes in life." Conclusion: The women reported a growing loss of independence as well as changes in their health and activities. Analyses revealed factors important for wellbeing as well as different coping strategies used by the women to deal with the age-related changes in their lives.

Background: Inclusive research teams typically describe their experiences and analyse the type of involvement of researchers with disability, but the process of building research teams and the need for research training still remain underexplored in the literature. Materials and Method: Four researchers with intellectual disabilities and four academic researchers developed an inclusive research team. The team conducted 15 research training sessions, focused on investigating the well-being of older women with intellectual disabilities. They used mobile technology to support research skills acquisition. Results: Findings included the experiences of all team members regarding the team building during training. Conclusions: To become an effective inclusive research team, all team members, regardless of ability, need to bring their own experiences and also learn necessary research skills. This paper highlights the need for team building, joint research training among all members of the research team and strategies supporting the peer-mentoring within the team.

Culture recurs as an important but under-investigated variable associated with resident outcomes in supported accommodation for people with intellectual disability. This study aimed to conceptualize the potential dimensions of culture in all group homes and describe the culture in underperforming group homes. A secondary analysis, using an inductive interpretative approach, was undertaken of a large qualitative data set from a study that had used ethnographic and action research methods to explore the quality of life outcomes for residents in 5 small group homes. Five categories were developed: misalignment of power-holder values with organizations espoused values, otherness, doing for not with, staff centered, and resistance. Differences from institutional culture are discussed, and the potential of the findings as a starting point to consider culture in high performing group homes and develop a quantitative measure of culture.

This paper outlines the ethical considerations when engaging in life story research with ex-prisoners with intellectual disability. Based on a study conducted in Queensland, Australia, the authors explore some of the challenges that have arisen through the lens of principle-based ethics. The significant disadvantage experienced by ex-prisoners with intellectual disability warrants further attention by social researchers, and care must be taken not to further harm this group through the research process. Issues pertaining to the broad ethical concepts of integrity, justice, respect for persons and beneficence are examined to identify the degree to which they can guide the actions of the life story researcher. Examples are given as to how the researcher responded to difficulties as they arose and the authors discuss ways forward from a principle-based approach.

This study explores meanings of family care held by seven families that include a middle-aged adult with intellectually disability. In-depth interviews were conducted with members of each family--the person with intellectual disability, parents, siblings, and sibling spouses. Participants described care as simply getting on with their lives, as "Family Business", characterised by the conduct of well-understood tasks and routines. As such, all, including the person with intellectual disability, performed roles critical to the well-being of each other and the family as a whole. Family Business was underpinned by negotiated, albeit often implicit, rules that reflected family values and were amenable to changes in circumstances throughout the lifecycle. Future planning was perceived as a sensitive whole family issue. Interdependence among members was key to retaining family independence from formal services that were regarded as a "top up". Suggested is the importance of services adopting a relational approach to understanding family care and supporting future planning for middle-aged people with intellectual disabilities, rather than simply focusing on "older carers". (Contains 1 table.)

Over the past 30 years, research in the area of applied behaviour analysis has led to a rich knowledge and understanding of the variables that influence human behaviour. This understanding and knowledge has given rise to a range of assessment and intervention techniques that have been applied to individuals with challenging behaviour. Interventions have produced changes in the severity and frequency of behaviours such as self-injury, aggression, and property destruction, and have also led to the acquisition of desired behaviours. While behaviour change has been achieved, families have expressed a desire for positive behaviour support approaches that adopt a family focus. Research and development of support frameworks that emphasise the interrelatedness of family members, and the child with a disability as part of his or her family, have gained prominence in the family systems literature. The present paper reviews some of the behaviourally based research in this area. Through the use of a case illustration, the authors discuss the links between behavioural support and family-centred support systems for children with developmental disabilities. Theoretical and practical implications are considered and areas for future research are highlighted.

Observation of nine subjects with mild intellectual disabilities working in competitive employment settings revealed that subjects' social networks lacked complexity, with few interconnections among the network modes. Major sources of social support emanated from the family and organizations catering to people with disabilities. Social support received within the workplace did not extend beyond it. (Author/JDD)

A follow-up study of 73 former special school students in New South Wales, Australia, found that 42 percent were in open employment. Those with moderate or severe intellectual disabilities were generally at sheltered workshops, activity centers, or home. Approximately 54 percent lived with their parents, and 69 percent reported a few close friends. (JDD)

The study interviewed 73 Australian young people with a range of disabilities who had completed their school program in 1985. Subjects expressed their ideas concerning successful transition from school to adult life including the need for a planned transition process, a job-related school curriculum, and structured procedures to facilitate community integration. (Author/DB)

The study investigated changes in frequency of language used by six Down's syndrome children (six to seven years old) as they interacted with nonretarded peers within a normal school playground setting. As a group, Ss demonstrated a positive relationship between percentage of time engaged in interaction and increasing frequency on language use in interaction. (CL)

The paper describes the Children's Interaction Schedule (CIS), an observation schedule designed to measure children's skills or processes in interacting with peers. There are nine categories of interactive behavior on which the CIS is based. The effectivness of the instrument in a field situation, using an interval-recording technique of behavior sampling is outlined. (Author/CL)

Aims: Life expectancy for both sexes in Australia exceeds 80 years, with individuals with intellectual disability also increasingly living into older age. This research aimed to comparatively examine perceptions of staff supporting either older adults or age peers with lifelong intellectual disability. Methods: This project asked 420 medical, health, and support workers about training adequacy, health services access, and trigger points for premature institutionalisation. This paper is based on a subsample of 196 respondents who provided quantitative and qualitative responses. Results: There was considerable variation in confidence in supporting ageing individuals, while only 23.7% of doctors reported their training was adequate to support adults ageing with intellectual disability. A lack of services and poor carer health were identified as triggers for premature institutionalisation. Conclusions: The study revealed key differences in staff perceptions of support provision and training adequacy when comparing ageing individuals with intellectual disability to the general ageing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]