Skip to content
Elder Law Prof Blog
Katherine C. Pearson, Editor, and a Member of the Law Professor Blogs Network on LexBlog.com

New Report: Intellectual & Developmental Disability & Dementia

By rmorgan

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) has posted a new report on its website. The July 2015 report was prepared by RTI International  pursuant to a contract with ACL. The report is titled IDD and Dementia. The executive summary explains in part:

The National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease (2014) calls for a coordinated effort to develop workforces in aging, public health, and intellectual and developmental disabilities that are dementia-capable and culturally-competent. In response to this directive, the U.S. Administration on Community Living presents the findings and resources in this white paper to community of providers who primarily serve older adults. It provides a broad overview of the services and support system for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) affected by dementia and their caregivers, examples of cross-network initiatives, and resources for improving dementia care across agencies and organizations that serve this population.

This white paper presents the current state of services and support system for persons with IDD who have dementia. There is recognition in the aging and IDD networks that states are in a transition period where the future of services will be more person-centered and focused on integration in the community (see Appendix A).

The report is divided into 9 sections with section 4 looking at screening, diagnosis and treatment; section 5 looking at services and financing; and section 6 looking at efforts to improve community-based services.  Section 7, the conclusion, includes a brief discussion of 5 issues:

  • Is dementia awareness education available to the IDD population and service providers?

  • Do the information and assistance services in both the aging and IDD networks identify those individuals with IDD and dementia and their caregivers who contact them?

  • Are persons with IDD and dementia being referred for appropriate diagnosis?

  • Are program eligibility and resource allocations taking into account the impact of cognitive disabilities on an aging population of persons with IDD?

  • Are the dementia-capable home and community-based services available to the general population capable of serving persons with IDD and dementia?

The report is available here.

Posted in:
Cognitive Impairment, Consumer Information, Dementia/Alzheimer’s and Health Care/Long Term Care