Perceived health and wellbeing among community-dwelling older Australians with intellectual disability: A comparison with age peers

• Published in: Journal of intellectual disabilities 2023-09, Vol.27 (3), p.777-793
• Main Authors: Wark, Stuart, Hussain, Rafat, Janicki, Matthew P., Knox, Marie, Parmenter, Trevor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Age; Aging (Individuals); At Risk Persons; Barriers; Foreign Countries; Health status; Intellectual disabilities; Intellectual Disability; Interpersonal Relationship; Learning disabled people; Life events; Life Satisfaction; Mental Health; Older Adults; Peers; Physical Health; Quality of Life; Rural communities; Safety; Social support; Social Support Groups; Socioeconomic Status; Well Being
• ISSN: 1744-6295; 1744-6309
• DOI: 10.1177/17446295221100040

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.