Beset by obstacles: A review of Australian policy development to support ageing in place for people with intellectual disability

• Published in: Journal of intellectual & developmental disability Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 76 - 86
• Main Author: Bigby, Christine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa UK Ltd 01.03.2008; Routledge; Taylor & Francis, Ltd; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged care; Ageing; ageing in place; ageing policy; Aging; Aging (Individuals); Australia; Australia: Social policy; Caregivers; Demography; Disabilities; Disability; Elder care; Forecasting; Foreign Countries; Group Homes; Group Homes - trends; Health care policy; Health Plan Implementation - trends; Health Services Accessibility - trends; Health Services for the Aged - trends; Health Services Needs and Demand - trends; Homes for the Aged - trends; Housing; Housing policy; Humans; Intellectual Disability; Intellectual Disability - epidemiology; Intellectual Disability - rehabilitation; intellectual disability and ageing; Learning disabilities; Learning disabled people; Living arrangements; Mental Retardation; Nursing Homes - trends; Older Adults; Policy Making; Population Dynamics; Public finance; Public Policy; Social Support; Vocational Education; Australia
• ISSN: 1366-8250; 1469-9532
• DOI: 10.1080/13668250701852433

Background Australian government policy regards people with intellectual disability (ID) as citizens with equal rights, which means that they should have access to the same opportunities as the wider community. Ageing in place is central to aged care policy in Australia for the general population. Method This paper reviews policy to support the provision of similar opportunities to age in place for people with ID, and the reasons for its slow development. Results Due to lifestyle patterns earlier in the life course, many people with ID experience a mid-life disruption to their accommodation, and may live in a group home as they age or may move prematurely to residential aged care. The absence of mechanisms to adjust disability funding as needs change, and the existence of policy that denies residents in group homes access to community-based aged care, forces disability services to "go it alone" to support ageing in place. Conclusion Despite a national priority to improve the interface between the disability and aged care sectors, administrative and funding characteristics continue to obstruct the development of implementation strategies to support ageing in place for people with ID, which remain at the stage of an exploration of the issues.