Intellectual Disability In Residential Care Research Articles

Quality of life among people with epilepsy and mild intellectual disabilities in residential care

This study examined quality-of-life (QOL) evaluations among people with epilepsy and mild intellectual disabilities in residential care to determine their covariation and potential determinants. Participants were 111 clients of the Bethel Institute, Bielefeld, Germany. They completed questionnaires on their overall QOL and life satisfaction, the PESOS scales on epilepsy-related QOL, the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and scales on activities of daily life and work-related problems in face-to-face-interviews. QOL evaluations differed in the various domains and tended to be better on more concrete items. Correlations of generic QOL parameters with scales on epilepsy-related QOL were only weak. BSI scores reflecting the current emotional state were identified as the most influential predictors of all QOL measures. The weak relationship between non-health-related parameters of subjective QOL and epilepsy-related QOL requires further investigation and theoretical explanation, whereas the influence of negative affect on different QOL dimensions is in line with previous QOL findings.

National survey 1999 on medical services for persons with intellectual disability in residential care in Israel

Article National survey 1999 on medical services for persons with intellectual disability in residential care in Israel was published on July 1, 2006 in the journal International Journal on Disability and Human Development (volume 5, issue 3).

The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) as a screening tool for psychological disorders in patients with epilepsy and mild intellectual disabilities in residential care

This study examines the usefulness of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) as a screening tool for psychological disorders in patients with epilepsy and mild intellectual disabilities. Participants were 91 residents of the Bethel Institute, Bielefeld, Germany. Cronbach’s α was revealed to be sufficient for the composite score Global Severity Index (GSI) (0.95) and for most of the subscales (0.64–0.80). Compared with normative data, residents with epilepsy scored slightly higher on all BSI scales. Only the subscale Paranoid Ideation was especially elevated, a finding of heuristic value. Subgroups of residents with past psychiatric morbidity, on current psychotropic medication, with poor seizure control, and more epilepsy-related problems either tended toward or demonstrated higher GSI scores. These results indicate the validity of the questionnaire with the GSI as a global indicator of possible psychopathology. BSI subscales seemed to reflect predominantly the amount of emotional distress, but their potential to identify specific clinical syndromes remained unclear.

National survey 1998 on medical services for persons with intellectual disability in residential care in Israel

Article National survey 1998 on medical services for persons with intellectual disability in residential care in Israel was published on April 1, 2005 in the journal International Journal on Disability and Human Development (volume 4, issue 2).

Health needs of adults with intellectual disability relevant for the family physician.

People with developmental disability, mental retardation, or intellectual disability are living longer and becoming prone to age-related health problems and diseases of old age much like the general population. This worldwide trend is also seen in Israel, where today 39.8% of persons with intellectual disability in residential care are 40 years old and above. There is a need for service and staff providers to receive training; a need for more research and better service for this aging population. This review presents health concerns for older persons with different levels of intellectual disability, health concerns in persons with Down syndrome, and persons with epileptic seizures and cerebral palsy in relation to general practice and family medicine. The review is concluded with recommendations on health and aging in adults with intellectual disabilities and the call for formalized training in the topic for specialists in family medicine.

Engagement in meaningful activity and “active support” of people with intellectual disabilities in residential care

Forty-nine adults with learning disabilities living in 13 small staffed homes in England were studied as part of larger projects in 1997 and again in 2000. A pre-test/post-test comparison group design was used to assess differences in staff implementation of “active support,” service user engagement in meaningful activities and adaptive behaviour. Homes which adopted active support showed significantly increased engagement in meaningful activity and adaptive behaviour between 1997 and 2000. A comparison group showed no significant change.

Mortality of persons with intellectual disability in residential care in Israel 1991-1997

In Israel, the Division for Mental Retardation provides service to 6022 persons (all ages) in 53 residential centres, 1280 persons in community-related residential facilities, and about 13,000 persons who participate in day care facilities. This accounts for about 20,000 persons out of the Israeli population of approximately six million. Every case of death in a residential facility is reported immediately to the Office of the Medical Director, who reviews and decides upon any further investigation. In case of suspected malpractice, a review committee is appointed. Each case of death in an institution is also investigated immediately by the local police, who decide upon the need for an autopsy. The present study reports on the number of deaths for the period 1991-1997 in Israeli residential centres. Some 450 deaths were reported, corresponding to a mortality rate of 10.25 deaths per 1000 population per year. The number of deaths compared with those in the general population. Information on the age and sex distribution, level of intellectual disability, ethnic background and cause of death is presented.

Prevalence of anti-hepatitis A antibodies, hepatitis B viral markers and anti-hepatitis C antibodies among persons with intellectual disability in institutions in Israel

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A, B and C in persons with intellectual disability in residential care in Israel and especially to determine the need for immunisation against hepatitis A. Four residential care centres were chosen from 53 centres housing 6022 persons. A total of 251 participants was tested and the prevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus was 91%, of hepatitis B surface antigen was 5.2%, its corresponding anti-HBs was 57% and of anti-hepatitis C virus was 0.8%. It is concluded that active immunisation against hepatitis B should be continued in this population, but only each new person who enters the residential care centres from home should be vaccinated against hepatitis A.

Helicobacter pylori infection in persons with intellectual disability in residential care in Israel.

Helicobacter pylori (formerly Campylobacter pylori) was identified in 1982 by researchers from Australia as a pathogenic factor in peptic ulcer disease. Due to the few studies on H. pylori infection conducted in the population of persons with intellectual disability it was decided to conduct a clinical study in Israel. The purpose of the study was to determine the occurrence of H. pylori infection in persons who presented with severe dyspeptic symptoms and to monitor clinically the effect of treatment. The Division for Mental Retardation in Israel provides service to 6,022 persons in 53 residential care centers and 1 in central Israel was selected for this pilot study. The study has been performed since 1999 and each patient who came to the medical clinic of the institution with severe dyspeptic symptoms was examined clinically and a blood specimen drawn for IgG antibodies to H. pylori (ELISA, Pharmatop Millenia). In case of positive serology, triple drug treatment (amoxycillin, metronidazole, and pantoprazole or omepra-zole) was initiated for 1 week. Since 1999 a total of 43 persons (total population in care was 224) had severe dyspeptic symptoms and 42 persons (98%, 26 males, 16 females, mean age 45 years, mean institutionalization 20 years) had Helicobacter infection. All patients were treated for 1 week, but six patients received an extra month of omeprazole due to persistent symptoms. At follow-up, clinically all patients had improvement and only seven still had minor complaints (83% treatment success). Persons with developmental disability, intellectual disability, or mental retardation in residential care presenting with severe dyspeptic symptoms had a high incidence of H. pylori infection. Therefore, we recommend serology or urea breath investigations in this population presenting with dyspeptic symptoms and triple drug treatment for 1 week in case of positive findings.