The Medical and Health Status of Older People With Mental Retardation in Australia

Abstract

This article reports the health and medical status of participants in an Austrahan study of persons over 55 years of age with mental retardation. Prevalence rates of illness and disease, the relationship between residential setting and health and medical status, and accessibility to health care and needed services were considered. The results indicated differences in prevalence rates for older people with and without mental retardation for conditions of the nervous system and sense organs, mental disorders, and genitourinary diseases. For persons with mental retardation, there were several significant differences in condition prevalence rates based on gender, ability level, and residential circumstances. Although many of these participants receive a high degree of support and medical services, underreporting of some health conditions has been suggested due to poor communication and language skills of people with mental retardation.