The impact of living arrangements and deinstitutionalisation in the health status of persons with intellectual disability in Europe

Abstract

Particular illnesses were found to be highly prevalent in PWID. There were important differences between different living arrangements depending on the level of formal support available and the stage of deinstitutionalisation. PWID are in need of tailored primary health programs that guarantee their access to quality health and health promotion and the preventative health actions of vaccination programs, systematic health checks, specific screenings and nutritional controls. Extensive national health surveys and epidemiological studies of PWID in the EC member states are urgently needed in order to reduce increased morbidity rates among this population.