Affiliation:
1. Psychology Department Cope Foundation Cork Ireland
2. Occupational Therapy Department Cope Foundation Cork Ireland
3. School of Psychology University of Galway Galway Ireland
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundDespite the increased risk for people with an intellectual disability developing dementia, post‐diagnostic psychosocial supports such as cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) are not routinely offered and there is limited research examining this intervention with people with intellectual disabilities. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of CST for older adults with intellectual disability to support active ageing.MethodsFive client participants attended a 14‐session CST group and four staff attended a focus group. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to investigate the client and staff narratives.ResultsThree key themes were generated: (1) Brain Health, (2) Connecting with others, and (3) Barriers and Enablers.ConclusionFindings indicated the suitability of CST as a way of supporting active ageing for older adults with intellectual disability. This study adds to the growing knowledge about service provision for older adults and their changing needs as they age and identifies clinical implications such as staff training to support intervention adherence.