Chapter 11

1. How have the general methodological problems encountered in conducting gerontological research contributed to problems in the investigation of the elderly with mental retardation?

Problems in research methodology have contributed to the relative lack of information on elderly individuals with mental retardation. Some problems relate to aging research generally, others arise specifically from mental retardation.

2. Why might elderly people with retardation be characterized as an “invisible” group?

Identifying the elderly with mental retardation has been difficult because of disagreement on who is old and problems in actually finding such individuals.

3. What effect does invisibility have on social services for the elderly with retardation?

If the population snot easily identified then lack of services is evident.

4. How does disagreement about who is old contribute to research difficulties on elderly people with mental retardation?

Because little research has focused specifically on this population, little information is available for use as a point of departure.  Although progress has made recently in research on the elderly in general and those with mental retardation, difficulties are still inherent in identifying detecting and analyzing data in such individuals.

5. The general perception of older people is that they have reduced level of mental functioning.  Does this perception hold for older individuals with mental retardation?

Older individuals with mental retardation appear to have mental functioning trends similar to those of people without mental retardation, although rates may be higher and some subgroups more vulnerable than others.

6. Do people with mental retardation decline in mental functioning more rapidly than people in the general population?

No, about the same rate.

7. What factors, other than reduced mental functioning, may enter the picture in terms if mental performance for older populations?

Cognitive and mental functioning

8. Why do some people object to community based living arrangements for older individuals with mental retardation? They feel they are very limiting and don’t expose the individuals to the outside world.