Guidelines for Structuring Community Care and Supports for People With Intellectual Disabilities Affected by Dementia

These guidelines, drawn from research and clinical experiences and demonstrated best practices, note what actions should be undertaken related to dementia in adults with intellectual disability. Framed by the staging model generally accepted for practice among generic dementia services, these guidelines flow from a prediagnosis stage when early recognition of symptoms associated with cognitive decline are recognized through to early, mid, and late stages of dementia, and characterizes the expected changes in behavior and function. The guidelines cite the application of the NTG-Early Detection Screen for Dementia as a first step in documenting early signs of cognitive and functional changes among people with intellectual disability and provide information on nonpharmacological options for providing community care for persons affected by dementia as well as commentary on abuse, financial, managing choice and liability, medication, and nutritional issues. These guidelines are the journal version.

Source: Jokinen, N., Janicki, M.P., Keller, S.M., McCallion, P., Force, F.T., and the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 2013.