Older people with intellectual disability face 'social isolation,' report finds

Older people with an intellectual disability can face “serious social isolation” which can have a negative impact on their health, writes Noel Baker.

Research from the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) showed that more people with an intellectual ability are undergoing health screenings and have better access to GPs, but those advantages can be offset by the impact of social isolation and poorly-managed chronic health problems.

The Wave 3 Report looks at those aged 40 and above and the findings come 10 years after the launch of the project. The report found: