Decline in functioning, now what? Ageing of adults with a visual impairment and a mild to moderate intellectual disability

The main goal of this project is to gain more knowledge on the impact of decline in daily functioning of aging persons with a visual and an intellectual disability. This goal includes the experiences and moral dilemmas parents, other relatives and professional caregivers face due to this ageing process. With this knowledge on ageing and decline in functioning, the aim is to
contribute to the development of interventions providing improved care and support for persons with a visual and an intellectual disability and consequently, to contribute to their well-being.

A mixed-methods approach will be used. To examine decline in functioning the project starts with a review study, in which electronic databases are searched for original articles and review studies on ageing of persons with an intellectual or visual disability, and if available, articles on ageing of persons with both disabilities. Also, a longitudinal mixed-methods study, in which persons with a visual and an intellectual disability are followed for two years, is conducted, in which qualitative and quantitative methods are used.
In a Delphi study the moral dilemmas are examined. It starts with semi-structured interviews with parents and caregivers. Then, during the second and third rounds, questionnaires will be used. The required knowledge and support that parents, other relatives and caregivers need, is part of the last phase of the project, in which previous findings are synthesized and integrated into a training, using questionnaires at baseline and during the intervention period to assess the effects of the training. Depending on the needs of the participants the training will include on-the-job coaching and/or virtual reality, m-learning, e-learning.