Aging Adults With Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

The population of older adults in the United States is projected to reach 70 million within the next 20 years.¹ Increasing age is but one of many factors associated with disparities in health access and outcomes, along with sex, nonwhite race, lower socioeconomic status, geographic proximity to health professionals, and having a disability. Moreover, within the population of those with disabilities, persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) are further disadvantaged.² The potential synergistic effect of increasing age with concomitant membership in a vulnerable population increases the risk of experiencing poor health.