Nursing care of special populations: issues in caring for elderly people with mental retardation.
OBJECTIVE
Changes in the life expectancy of people with mental retardation (MR) and its impact on nursing.


OBJECTIVE
To outline issues associated with health care of an aging MR population. Advances in medicine and technology have contributed to gains in life expectancy for people with MR. Nurses, therefore, will be providing increased care for these individuals in both acute and community settings. Nurses and other healthcare providers must be educated concerning the special needs of individuals with MR.


METHODS
Review of CINAHL, MEDLINE, PUBMED, government documents, and policy papers from 1993 to 2003.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses need education and increased exposure to the special clinical challenges of caring for individuals with MR. In addition, accessible and appropriate community-based services are required to enhance the quality of life for people with MR.
Fisher
Kathleen
K
School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA.
D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003688:Deinstitutionalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D008017:Life Expectancy; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011788:Quality of Life; D013240:Stereotyping; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology