Health services, health promotion, and health literacy: report from the State of the Science in Aging with Developmental Disabilities Conference.
BACKGROUND
This article summarizes the proceedings of the Health Services, Health Promotion, and Health Literacy work group that was part of the "State of the Science in Aging with Developmental Disabilities: Charting Lifespan Trajectories and Supportive Environments for Healthy Living." Participants aimed to identify unmet needs related to health and health care and to determine training, research, and policy needs addressing the demands for increasing health care services and resources, end-of-life and palliative care, and health literacy.


METHODS
Key issues addressed included (1) major health-related disparities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD); (2) the impact of internal and external factors on health care services and resources, end-of-life and palliative care, and health literacy for adults with I/DD; and (3) frameworks that can be used for understanding and promoting health care services and resources, end-of-life and palliative care, and health literacy.


RESULTS
Group participants identified research and practice needs related to primary care, health promotion, disease prevention, illness care, end-of-life issues, and palliative care.


CONCLUSIONS
Health care services for adults with I/DD may occur in a variety of settings including community-based programs, private practices, and community-based agencies supporting persons with disabilities. Major gaps relate to health disparities due to underdiagnosis, misdiagnosis, less chance of receiving prompt treatment, limited access to providers, lack of research information, transportation barriers, and lack of accessible medical equipment. Models of care including variables related to translation, sustainability, accessibility (e.g., affordability, availability), acceptability (e.g., culturally relevant, satisfaction), and equity need to be developed.
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Developmental Disabilities and Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60608-6904, USA. bmarks1@uic.edu
Beth
B
Marks
Jasmina
J
Sisirak
Kueifang
K
Hsieh
D000375:Aging; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018450:Disease Progression; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012111:Residence Characteristics