On Friday, September 13th, in Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny, Donegal HSE Disability Services and the Nursing & Midwifery Planning and Development Unit, North West (NMPDU), host a conference titled "Longitudinal Dynamics in the Ageing of People with an Intellectual Disability: How Evidence from IDS-TILDA can Inform and Support Strategic Planning and Service Delivery." The conference is being held in partnership with the Trinity Centre for Ageing & Intellectual Disability, Trinity College Dublin and will bring together key professionals and stakeholders to discuss critical findings from the Intellectual Disability Supplement to The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA).
The conference aims to inform and support an evidence-based approach to strategic planning within intellectual disability services. By sharing these research insights, the event seeks to equip attendees with valuable data on the health, well-being, and social inclusion of older adults with intellectual disabilities. This information is crucial for developing and implementing policies and practices that are responsive to the unique needs of this population. The conference will provide a platform for knowledge exchange and facilitate discussions on how to integrate these research findings into daily operations, ultimately enhancing service delivery and improving outcomes for individuals with intellectual disabilities as they age.
Ireland, a World Leader
Ireland is the first country in the world to systematically study the ageing process in people with intellectual disabilities. Though life expectancy in people with intellectual disabilities has increased in recent decades, alarming disparities persist—people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland continue to die 20 years younger than the general population, suffer from more chronic health conditions and have fewer social networks. This conference aims to confront these stark realities head-on while celebrating progress in key areas.
A Day of Insightful Presentations and Strategic Discussions
The conference will feature a keynote address from Professor Mary McCarron, a leading international figure in ageing and intellectual disability research, and the Director of the Trinity Centre for Ageing & Intellectual Disability. Incidentally, Professor McCarron has strong ties to Donegal through her husband, Noel McCarron, a renowned athlete who hails from Letterkenny. Professor McCarron will be joined by esteemed colleagues Professor Eilish Burke, Dr. Martin McMahon, Dr. Ashleigh Gorman, and Dr. Damien Brennan.
The agenda will focus on topics crucial to the health and well-being of older adults with intellectual disabilities, including physical health trajectories, long-term family caregiving sustainability and social inclusion.
Key Findings from IDS-TILDA’s Wave 5 Report
Attendees will also hear about the significant findings from Wave 5 of the IDS-TILDA study, which continues to highlight both the successes and ongoing challenges faced by older adults with intellectual disabilities.
Wave 5 of IDS-TILDA has revealed many promising outcomes particularly in the younger cohort aged under 50. These include a significant change in living circumstances with fewer than 8% of this group now living in residential care. The IDS-TILA report also shows increased levels of self-determination, community engagement and physical activity among this group who have fewer chronic health conditions and lower levels of smoking. However, it also highlights concerning issues, particularly regarding the physical and mental health of women. A key finding of the report is the poor oral health of adults with intellectual disabilities who, despite widespread access to dental services, have considerably poorer outcomes than the general population. The pervasive challenges faced by family caregivers are also featured in the report.
Professor McCarron shared her thoughts on the event, stating, “we are delighted to collaborate with Donegal HSE Disability Services and the Nursing and Midwifery, Planning and Development Unit, in this pivotal conference. This event is a significant milestone in our commitment to translate research findings from The Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) into actions that will strategically improve service delivery. The evidence from five waves of our longitudinal study will be shared in ways that equip managers and frontline staff with critical data on health, social outcomes, and community participation.”
Head of Service for Disability Services in Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo, Ms. Edel Quinn, spoke about the conference remarking that “Disability Services in the area are constantly seeking to be better informed in order to better plan for, represent and respond to the needs of people with intellectual disabilities. The opportunity to have world leaders in this area of research bring their knowledge and expertise to the Community Healthcare area was so very welcome and one which I and the Nursing and Midwifery and Planning Development Unit colleagues were eager to support. We know that the outcomes from the conference will shape and impact services going forward.”
Making a Difference
This conference is a unique opportunity for professionals across the HSE, voluntary organisations, and support groups to come together and translate these findings into tangible improvements in service delivery. The event promises to be a critical moment in the ongoing effort to improve the quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities as they age.
Last updated on: 13 / 09 / 2024
