What are the Age-Related Concerns of Adults with Developmental Disabilities and their Families?
• Developing sufficient housing options for older adults: Recent national estimates of waiting lists for residential services range from 59,000 to 87,000 people. As adults age there is a growing need for housing options out of the family home. Concurrently, there has been a large increase in the use of community based smaller homes and supported living arrangements. In addition, over 10,000 adults with intellectual/ developmental disabilities have moved out of nursing homes since 1987. These trends are expected to continue. Many of the residents who have experienced these residential transitions have included older adults. Research has shown that both younger and older adults are able to benefit from these transitions. • Enabling adults to “age in place”: The growing numbers of older adults with developmental disabilities will increase the need for services and supports that enable them to maintain functioning and continue living as in-dependently as possible, whether they are living w
