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Chapter 6: The Developmentally Disabled Elderly in Canada
retardation is defined as: "subaverage intellectual functioning along with deficits in
adaptive behavior that occur first in childhood and are carried over into adulthood"
(Rose & Janicki, 1986:1).
The literature reveals that the life expectancy for all developmentally disabled
groups has increased. Walz, et al. (1986) compared documents showing mortality of
the developmentally disabled over a widely separated interval of time. In 1932, 28%
of persons with mental retardation (studied at age 10) survived to age 60. In a 1976
study, however, 46% survived to age 60. This figure is still lower than that of the
general population (Carter & Jancar, 1983). Within the developmentally disabled
population, women, ambulatory persons, non-Down's Syndrome, the less severely
mentally retarded, and those who have remained in their home communities have the
greatest life expectancies (Jacobson, Sutton, & Janicki, 1985).
According to the Association of Retarded Citizens, approximately 3% of the
United States population, or 6 million persons, have mental retardation. The United
Cerebral Palsy Association estimates the number of persons with cerebral palsy at
750,000, and the Epilepsy Foundation of America claims close to one million
epileptics, while the National Society for Children and Adults with Autism estimates
approximately 80,000 autistic Americans (Lippman & Loberg, 1985).
In a major research study of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and
Minnesota, Sweeney (1980) found that over 10% of the developmentally disabled
population for this region were over the age of 65. Based on current estimates from a
number of sources, Walz, et al. (1986) state that there are a quarter of a million elderly
developmentally disabled in the United States aged 65 and over. If age 55 were used
for the estimation, the number would be 1,380,000 (Seltzer & Seltzer, 1984). It is
obvious that with extended life expectancy the subpopulation of developmentally
disabled elderly will continue to increase in the coming years. Demographers have
estimated that the elderly population in the United States will double in the next thirty
years (Rose and Ansello, 1987; Rose & Janicki, 1986). It is safe to assume that there
will be a comparable increase in the number of adults with developmental disabilities.
Issues
Drug Interactions
There are several problem areas at issue for those who deal with the developmen-
tally disabled elderly. For one thing, when they are prescribed medications for geriatric
illnesses, they may experience drug interactions with medicines previously prescribed
to help control seizures, depression, or other effects of their primary disability.
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