Ageing with an intellectual disability in rural areas

Aim: In recent years, a combination of factors have seen life expectancies for people with intellectual disabilities increase dramatically. While this improvement is naturally a very desirable outcome, there are limited policy frameworks and little information regarding the impact of rurality on this relatively new phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding from Australian disability-support staff in rural areas regarding the most important issues facing them as they support people with intellectual disabilities who are ageing. Method: A three-round Delphi research model was utilised over a period of twelve months. The participant group (N = 31) included representatives from fourteen different rurally-based disability service agencies. Results and Conclusions: A thematic analysis identified specific areas of concern including funding, inadequate/inappropriate training, access to relevant services, medical/health problems, time constraints, and family dynamics. The results detail a number of important items relating to the ageing of people with intellectual disabilities in rural localities. The findings have implications for Government Departments, disability service providers, and training entities, in both the delivery of services to individuals with intellectual disabilities who are ageing and the training of the staff who support this cohort of people.