Ageing‐related experiences of adults with learning disability resident in rural areas: one Australian perspective

Abstract

Accessible summary This paper is about older people with learning disabilities who live in the country in Australia. We talked to both individuals and their carers to find out what things helped them they got older, and what things made it harder. These people said that they were well supported by the local community and particularly their doctors. However, many people in this project also reported problems about living in the country such as limited choices and being forced to make decisions they did not like. Abstract Background: Access to support services in rural areas is known to be problematic both in Australia, and in other countries around the world, but the majority of research on the population of people ageing with learning disability has so far focussed on metropolitan residents. The authors report about select aspects of the lived experience of older adults with learning disability resident in rural locations in two states of Australia. Materials and Methods: This pilot project examined data drawn from 34 semi‐structured interviews conducted with 17 older adults and 17 carers. Responses were analysed for thematic areas. Results: It was observed that the capacity of certain rural areas to support meaningful choice‐making was limited due to constraints of access to key services, including community‐based aged care, generic and specialist health services, and both supported disability and aged‐care residential options. Responses indicated that those living in both small‐ and medium‐sized congregate care settings (such as group homes and residential aged‐care facilities) had more limited choices and only partial (if any) control over their living situation. Conclusion: An understanding of the needs of older adults with learning disability resident in rural areas is important to ensure that both aged‐care and disability support structures are built on individuals' needs.

Factors affecting access to primary health care services for persons with disabilities in rural areas: a “best-fit” framework synthesis

“…Most of the articles ( n = 33) in this synthesis were published in the last five years 2012–2017, thus indicating a recent interest on this topic. Of the 36 studies, 10 were conducted in high income countries, including Australia [37–40], United States [41–44] and Canada [45, 46]. The remaining 26 studies originated from LMICs primarily from Ethiopia [47–54], South Africa [55–59], India [60, 61], Nepal [62, 63], Malawi [64], Mexico [65], Namibia [66], Pakistan [67], Tanzania [68], Thailand [69, 70] and Vietnam [71].…”

Issues of accessibility to health services by older Australians: a review

“…host family respite), integrated with increased post-respite support and psychosocial education’ Tilse (2002) [ 47 ] Semi-structured interviews Management, families and residents Rural Australia Aged care facilities ‘The complexity of current financial arrangements, access to appropriate financial advice at the time of entry, and the potential for an informal two-tier system in relation to the allocation of amenities are identified as developing policy issues’ Walker (2012) [ 22 ] Literature search People with multiple conditions Australia Chronic conditions health services ‘Services and policies require specific reforms to better meet the needs of people with multiple conditions’ Warburton et al (2015) [ 48 ] Multistage mixed-methods Practitioners Rural Australia Specialist service organisations ‘The challenges of rural assessment, are both demand-driven and supply issues’ Ward et al (2011) [ 49 ] Mixed methodology including quantitative and qualitative methods 35 to 75 years of age South Australia Bowel screening ‘The main system-related barriers were the lack of awareness of colorectal cancer or screening. The problems with language due to most of the information being in English and the lack of recommendation by a doctor’ Wark et al (2015) [ 50 ] Semi-structured interviews Older adults and carers Rural Australia Disability services ‘An understanding of the needs of older adults with learning disability resident in rural areas is important to ensure that both aged-care and disability support structures are built on individuals’ needs’ Wark et al (2015) [ 28 ] Delphi conducted over three rounds Disability workers who support people with learning disability Rural New South Wales, Australia Non-government disability services ‘A thematic analysis indicated three main themes of access to services; time constraints and funding’ …”

How to improve the quality of life of elderly people with intellectual disability: A systematic literature review of support strategies

“…Several articles pointed out the negative QoL outcomes caused by the lack of a good and accessible organization of competent ministry services, care system integration, intersystem collaboration, and (simple) explication of the available options (Hole, Stainton, & Wilson, ; Wark et al, ; Webber, Bowers, & McKenzie‐Green, ). Governments and organizations would do well to create coherent policies to assemble into one framework all of the services that support this ageing population (Watchman et al, ).…”

“…Regrettably, several articles identified the QoL effects of governments or organizations worldwide reducing funds (Buys, Aird, & Miller, ; Hole et al, ; Kåhlin et al, ; LeRoy et al, ; Thompson, Ryrie, & Wright, ; Wark et al, ). Decisions in policy, in financing, as well as in provision of services, trickle down to almost every meso‐ and micro‐intervention and thus effect QoL outcomes.…”