Unique and universal barriers: hospice care for aging adults with intellectual disability

Am J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2012 Nov;117(6):509-32. doi: 10.1352/1944-7558-117.6.509.

Abstract

As life expectancy of people with intellectual disability (ID) has increased, there has been a concurrent increase in age-related illnesses and conditions similar to that of the general population. These circumstances result in people with ID dying from typical life-ending conditions, and thus, they require similar end-of-life services such as palliative and hospice care. Although there are notable barriers to hospice for all, people with ID face additional challenges in accessing the benefits of these services. This article presents a review of the literature on these issues, underscoring the multiple challenges and the importance of a more collaborative approach between hospice and palliative care workers with people with ID, their families, and other important stakeholders.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aging / physiology*
  • Health Personnel / education
  • Health Services Accessibility / statistics & numerical data*
  • Hospices / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / epidemiology*
  • Palliative Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Terminology as Topic
  • United States / epidemiology