An Ethnographic Study Concerning the Implementation of Education on Ageing for Older Adults with Mild Intellectual Disability: The Perspective of the Educators

Marianne Holmgren and Gerd Ahlström ()
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Marianne Holmgren: Department of Health Sciences, Applied Gerontology, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, P.O. Box 117, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
Gerd Ahlström: Department of Health Sciences, Applied Gerontology, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, P.O. Box 117, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: Despite the fact that longevity in people with intellectual disability has increased at least as much as in the general population, there is a dearth of interventions related to ageing for these older people. Therefore, this study investigated educators’ implementation strategies in a new tailor-designed educational intervention with the goal of supporting the process of ageing for people with mild intellectual disability. An ethnographic research design was employed, including participant observations, field notes, and 15 ad hoc interviews with educators, spread over two years in four towns. The strategies used for facilitating learning about ageing were expressed in the two themes promoting social togetherness through everyone’s participation and learning together and from each other through recognition and consolidation . These strategies were applied to create a learning environment characterised by a good atmosphere and respectful interaction. Learning together involved consolidation through repetition, group discussions, the use of visual learning materials, and study visits. This new educational intervention about ageing is promising, but less resource-intensive interventions should also be developed and preferably integrated into the disability service. Before concluding whether this education supports the ageing process, it needs to be evaluated from the perspective of people with intellectual disability.

Keywords: ageing; education; ethnographic study; health promotion; healthy ageing; learning disability; implementation; mild intellectual disability; pedagogic implementation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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