Residential, Health, and Social Service Needs of Elderly Developmentally Disabled Persons

Abstract

Historically little or no information has been available on persons who were both elderly and developmentally disabled. This paper offers survey-derived demographic, disability characteristic, living setting, and health and social service receipt and need information on a population of 7,823 such persons age 53 and older. Additional information is presented by age groups and residential settings. Both similarities and dissimilarities were noted between elders in general and age peers who were also developmentally disabled. Comments are offered relating the information to public policy considerations.