Turning Knowledge into Action: Exploring the Sustainability of Community-Based Health Initiatives for Adults Aging with Intellectual/Developmental Disability within Community Agencies

Community-based intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) agencies provide services and supports to people aging with I/DD, offering these individuals opportunities to participate in their community and engage in positive health behaviors.  However, little is known about the factors involved with sustaining community-based health initiatives (CBHI) among I/DD agencies. For this reason, it is important to gain a better understanding of the influencing factors involved in sustaining CBHI that are being implemented by these agencies. Doing so may increase individuals with I/DD ability to experience positive physical and social health outcomes as they age; thereby, potentially decreasing their risk of institutionalization due to poor health. The purpose of the current study was to explore the facilitators and barriers of sustaining CBHI for people aging with I/DD, living in group homes managed by I/DD agencies.  Two non-profit I/DD agencies participated in the study. Nineteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with directors, managers, and direct support staff. Interviews conducted with directors and regional managers provided an understanding of the factors involved in sustaining CBHI for clients aging with I/DD from a broader systemic perspective, whereas interviews with support staff provided a “front line” perspective of the factors that may be effecting sustainability within group home settings. Grounded theory methods, including constant comparison, were used for analysis. Preliminarily findings show that although I/DD agencies understand the importance of health and community participation for their clients and support such initiatives, agencies lack policies and resources to sustain CBHI for their clients aging with I/DD over time.