Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Part I Assessment and diagnosis
- Part II Psychopathology and special topics
- 6 The psychopathology of children with intellectual disabilities
- 7 Depression, anxiety and adjustment disorders in people with intellectual disabilities
- 8 Schizophrenia spectrum disorders in people with intellectual disabilities
- 9 Personality disorder
- 10 Dementia and mental ill-health in older people with intellectual disabilities
- 11 People with intellectual disabilities who are at risk of offending
- 12 Behavioural phenotypes: growing understandings of psychiatric disorders in individuals with intellectual disabilities
- 13 Mental health problems in people with autism and related disorders
- 14 Self-injurious behaviour
- 15 Mental health and epilepsy among adults with intellectual disabilities
- 16 Neuroimaging and intellectual disabilities
- Part III Treatment and therapeutic interventions
- Part IV Policy and service systems
- Index
- References
10 - Dementia and mental ill-health in older people with intellectual disabilities
from Part II - Psychopathology and special topics
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 December 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Part I Assessment and diagnosis
- Part II Psychopathology and special topics
- 6 The psychopathology of children with intellectual disabilities
- 7 Depression, anxiety and adjustment disorders in people with intellectual disabilities
- 8 Schizophrenia spectrum disorders in people with intellectual disabilities
- 9 Personality disorder
- 10 Dementia and mental ill-health in older people with intellectual disabilities
- 11 People with intellectual disabilities who are at risk of offending
- 12 Behavioural phenotypes: growing understandings of psychiatric disorders in individuals with intellectual disabilities
- 13 Mental health problems in people with autism and related disorders
- 14 Self-injurious behaviour
- 15 Mental health and epilepsy among adults with intellectual disabilities
- 16 Neuroimaging and intellectual disabilities
- Part III Treatment and therapeutic interventions
- Part IV Policy and service systems
- Index
- References
Summary
Introduction
People with intellectual disabilities (ID) form a small proportion of the whole population but, because of special needs, require suitable services and supports. Older persons form only a small proportion of all people with ID. However, the needs of older compared with younger adults with ID do have some differences and, in many developed countries, services are only starting to recognize and adapt to meet such needs. Additionally, the number of people with ID who will reach old age is increasing.
Demography
The proportion of older people within the population is increasing. This is in part caused by changing birth rates — for example, the post-war baby boom cohort of the 1940s which affects people with ID as well as people of average ability. Additionally, life expectancy for the whole population is increasing, and although life expectancy for people with ID is still shorter than for the general population (McGuigan et al., 1995; Durvasula et al., 2002), it is increasing at a faster velocity. This is owing to more person-centred and improved quality of care and support, improved access to medical treatments such as for respiratory infections and congenital heart disease, changing attitudes and improved lifestyle opportunities, and reduced spread of infectious diseases. These factors have contributed to the increased life expectancy of people with ID at all ages and all ability levels.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Psychiatric and Behavioural Disorders in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities , pp. 154 - 172Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007
References
- 4
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