Ageing and health

Key facts

Older people with intellectual disability have the same range of health problems as all older people, and many develop age-related problems at a much earlier age. You should watch for any signs that a person’s health is deteriorating.

Like all people who are growing older, the person with a disability should have a full health assessment every year.

The fact sheet Adults – signs of illness lists signs that a person with intellectual disability may have some common health conditions. You should watch out for these in older people and remember that, as people age, they often find it harder to recover from illness.

This fact sheet talks about some conditions that are more common as people age.

Common health problems as people age

Reactions to medication - Some medications have serious side effects especially if they have been taken for many years. Some medications may not be needed any more. Older people are also more likely than younger people to have bad reactions to new medications. Regular medication reviews are important!
Vision and hearing – These may deteriorate as people age.
Contractures – A contracture is the shortening of a muscle or body tissue so that a joint becomes deformed. If a person already has contractures, eg because of cerebral palsy, they can get worse and more painful with age. Is the person showing signs of increased pain?
Thyroid and bowel problems - Some causes of intellectual disability, eg Down syndrome, make people more likely to have early deterioration in their thyroid and their bowel function. Medication can make a big difference if the problem is detected early.
Dementia - This occurs early in some people with intellectual disability. The person also may develop depression or seizures as a lead up to dementia.
Lack of exercise and obesity - Older adults with intellectual disability need support to avoid and manage these problems. Otherwise, they can lead to constipation, incontinence, arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Nutrition – This remains important as people age. In particular, vitamin D and calcium helps keep bones and joints healthy.
Arthritis - Older people with intellectual disability may not show signs of pain in their joints until it is well progressed.
Skin deterioration - Older people’s skin becomes thinner and paler, so they feel colder, wounds take longer to heal, and they are at risk of sunburn. They need to drink plenty of fluids in warm weather and use sunscreen. If the person spends most of the time in bed or a chair, they may develop pressure sores - they need help to move regularly.
Neurological deterioration - People with intellectual disability may develop “neurological disabilities” at a younger age than other people. In a person’s fifties or sixties, they may develop cataracts on the eyes, hearing loss and decline in balance and gait co-ordination.
Depression – You need to be alert to this in all older people.

Where to get help

The GP is the best starting point for advice and treatment. Where an older person has complex health problems, the GP may refer the person to:

A geriatrician (a doctor who specialises in the health problems of ageing people).
A specialised health service for people with intellectual disability. Two of these have specialist ageing clinics. See the Specialised intellectual disability health services fact sheet.

You might be interested in these fact sheets

Adults – signs of illness
Adults – what kinds of health services are there?
Annual health assessments
Causes of intellectual disability and health care
Challenging behaviour and health
End of life care
Mental health

This fact sheet was written in July 2009.

The fact sheet contains general information only and does not take into account individual circumstances. It should not be relied on for medical advice. We encourage you to look at the information in this fact sheet carefully with your health professional to decide whether the information is right for you.