The challenges of aging in persons with intellectual disabilities

U ovom radu bit će prikazani neki izazovi starenja osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama na koje ukazuje međunarodna znanstvena i stručna zajednica zadnjih dvadesetak godina. U Hrvatskoj se o ovoj temi nedovoljno istraživalo i pisalo, iako su u velikoj mjeri prisutni problemi osiguravanja adekvatne skrbi za stariju populaciju osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama. Populacija starijih tipičnih osoba sve je brojnija u razvijenim zemljama, a životni vijek osoba s invaliditetom u razvijenim zemljama produljuje se paralelno sa životnim vijekom osoba tipičnog razvoja. Iako su neki procesi tijekom starenja slični za populaciju osoba sa i bez intelektualnih teškoća, ipak su prisutni i neki specifi čni povećani rizici kod osoba s teškoćama, o kojima je potrebno voditi računa prilikom planiranja podrške. Izazovi za društvo su osigurati adekvatnu skrb o osobama s intelektualnim teškoćama koje stare, a pritom voditi računa o specifi čnim potrebama ovih osoba, te u tom smjeru razvijati specifi čne politike i implementaciju strategija.This article considers some of the challenges met by aging persons with intellectual disabilities that have been pointed out by the international scientific and professional community during the last 20 years. There is a lack of studies and literature on this topic in Croatia, despite the great need to provide adequate support services for elder people with intellectual disabilities. The population of elderly persons with typical development has been increasing in developed countries, and the life expectancies of people with disabilities in developing countries have grown in parallel with those of persons with typical development. The aging of people with intellectual disabilities is still a rare topic in research and literature. Although some processes during aging are similar in both populations, there are still some specifi c, increased risks for people with intellectual disabilities that need to be taken into account of when planning support. Society is challenged by the task of providing optimal support for aging people with intellectual disabilities, which requires the development of specifi c policies and the implementation of specifi c strategies that take into account their specific needs