Aging and Developmental Disability: Current Research, Programming, and Practice Implications

by Joy Hammel, Susan Nochajski

Overview

Aging and Developmental Disability: Current Research, Programming, and Practice Implications explores research findings and their implications for practice in relation to normative and disability-related aging experiences and issues. This valuable book discusses the effectiveness of specific interventions targeted toward aging adults with developmental disabilities such as Down's Syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, and epilepsy, and offers suggestions for practice and future research in this area.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781317825975
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/23/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	112
File size:	481 KB

About the Author

Joy Hammel, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Assistant Professor in the Departments of Occupational Therapy and Disability and Human Development, and on the faculty of the Joint Doctoral Program in Disability Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She received her PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and her BS in Occupational Therapy from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Dr. Hammel has worked as an OTR for over 13 years, served as past Chair of the American Occupational Therapy Special Interest Section, and is currently Principal Investigator on several federal research grants. Her research focuses on the supports and barriers to community living experienced by disabled people and older adults, including the long term use, outcomes, and funding of assistive technology and environmental interventions. Susan M. Nochajski, PhD, OTR/L, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. Dr. Nochajski has BS and MS degrees in Occupational Therapy and a PhD in Special Education from the University at Buffalo. She has over twenty years of clinical experience in occupational therapy working primarily with persons of all ages with developmental disabilities. Dr. Nochajski’s current research interests involve the use and functional impact of assistive technology by persons with disabilities,.particularly by persons with intellectual disabilities as they age and by students with disabilities as they transition from secondary education to adult settings.

Table of Contents

Contents

• Introduction: Aging and Developmental Disability: Current Research, Programming, and Practice Implications
• The Impact of Age-Related Changes on the Functioning of Older Adults with Developmental Disabilities
• Overview of Health Issues of Older Women with Intellectual Disabilities
• Assistive Technology and Environmental Intervention (AT-EI) Impact on the Activity and Life Roles of Aging Adults with Developmental Disabilities: Findings and Implications for Practice
• Supporting Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Their Families in Planning and Advocacy: A Literature Review
• Challenges to Aging in Place: The Elder Adult with MR/DD
• Aging and Developmental Disability Information Resources
• Index
• Reference Notes Included

Editorial Reviews

Published simultaneously as volume 18, number 1, 2000, this book explores research findings and practice implications pertaining to normative and disability-related aging experiences and issues. It discusses the effectiveness of specific interventions targeting aging adults with intellectual disabilities like Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, and epilepsy. Touching upon many areas of geriatric disability care and intervention, the book also offers suggestions for practice and for future research. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

Reviewer: Laura K. Vogtle, PhD, OTR/L, ATP (University of Alabama at Birmingham)
Description: This is a summary of the research in the area of aging and developmental disability, with a focus on occupational and physical therapy related information. The authors tie the research into the ICIDH-2 model, focusing on the integration of impairments with activity levels and participation.
Purpose: The purpose is to explore research findings and practice implications of normative and disability-related aging experiences and issues. The effectiveness of specific interventions for adults aging with developmental disabilities and their caregivers are discussed and directions for future research delineated. The objectives are indeed worthy. This is a new and emerging area, one that healthcare providers have not dealt with in the past. The implications for clinicians are huge — in effect, this is a new specialty area merging the gerontology field with developmental disabilities. The authors have done an excellent job of meeting the objectives. The book is appropriately slanted toward OT and PT practitioners and the coverage of literature is thorough with the exception of that in the area of the perspective of the caregiver.
Audience: The book is aimed at occupational and physical therapists. The book is appropriate for therapists who are practitioners in developmental disabilities, gerontology, or community based practitioners. The editors are established experts in assistive technology and developmental disability and they are well qualified to produce this text.
Features: The book covers physical changes seen in typical adults and those with developmental disabilities, women's health issues in persons with developmental disabilities, the use of and future practice areas for assistive technology, existing programs that fit the ICIDH-2 module of participation, some aspects of caregiver issues, living contexts, and disability information resources. The authors do an excellent job of incorporating physical changes of aging as they apply to participation in the community and ability to function, especially given the limited nature of information on these issues. The chapter on assistive technology is very strong, which is not surprising given the authors. Dr. Heller's chapter is short on examples of model programs because there are not many of them around, but she does a nice job of expanding on future possibilities from the limited perspective. The aging in place chapter does an excellent job of highlighting the plight of caregivers and their adult children with developmental disabilities. The need for life care planning and solutions for families is particularly poignant here. The resources section is short but complete — there just is not a lot of information in this area. Future directions for practice and research are particularly good throughout the entire book and are specifically directed at OT and PT. The one area I felt the book did not cover in enough detail is the role of caregivers. There is some literature on the effects of caregiving on caregivers that is not well represented.
Assessment: This is an excellent book with potential as a resource and as a reference for practitioners dealing with persons aging with a disability. The particular strength of the book is the integration of personal and environmental context into the life-span issues of adults with disabilities who are getting older. This book is not limited to mobility and ADL issues, but incorporates the individual and societal perspectives into aging. It highlights many potential areas for research as well. There are no other books that I know of in this area for therapists.

Doody's Review Service