What is it about?
Past research has demonstrated that older adults with developmental disabilities experience the same medical conditions as the general aging population, but at a higher rate and beginning at a younger age. As such, the proportion of adults with developmental disabilities requiring aging related care is likely higher than in the general population.
On February 19, 2015, Dr. Ouellete-Kuntz and Dr. Lynn hosted an interactive virtual Town Hall in which they discussed:
- Aging and frailty among adults without developmental disabilities
- Use of home care services among adults with developmental disabilities
- Admissions to long-term care among adults with developmental disabilities
Presenters
Hélène Ouellette-Kuntz, PhD, is a Professor in the departments of Public Health Sciences and Psychiatry at Queen's University with degrees in nursing, epidemiology and human geography. She is also the secretary of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Her research focuses on two key targets related to improving the lives of adults with developmental disabilities: reducing health disparities and promoting social inclusion.. Email: oullette@queensu.ca
Lynn Martin, PhD, is the Chair of the Department of Health Sciences at Lakehead University. She is also on the Chief Editorial Board of the Journal on Developmental Disabilities, and an Associate Fellow of interRAI - an international research collaborative. Her research seeks to build the evidence that will help to improve the health, wellbeing, and service outcomes of persons with developmental disabilities. Email: lynn.martin@lakeheadu.ca.
Katherine McKenzie is an epidemiology graduate student in the Department of Public Health Sciences at Queen's University, with a degree in biomedical sciences. Her research interests include aging with developmental disabilities and the use of long-term care services.