Overcoming Adversity: The Continuing Impact of COVID-19 on People Ageing with an Intellectual Disability in Ireland

Findings from the Intellectual Disability Supplement to The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) COVID-19 Sub-Study

Minister Anne Rabbitte, TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, formally launched ‘Overcoming Adversity: The Continuing Impact of COVID-19 on People Ageing with an Intellectual Disability in Ireland - Findings from the Intellectual Disability Supplement to The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) COVID-19 Sub-Study’ Report on Thursday 27th January at 2pm.

This report explores the experiences of older people with an intellectual disability during the pandemic in 2021, following on from the first COVID-19 survey in 2020. The findings offer an additional insight to the longer-term effects of COVID-19 on people with an intellectual disability, highlighting a growing impact on health and service utilisation, social connection and participation, and mental health and well-being for this population. This data will be of interest to policymakers, service providers, both formal and informal carers, and people with an intellectual disability and their families.

Following the Minister’s address, Professor Mary McCarron presented the key findings, followed by a discussion with an expert panel, which included the following speakers:

• Professor Mary McCarron, Principal Investigator, IDS-TILDA, Professor of Ageing and Intellectual Disability, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin

• Prof Philip McCallion, Co-Investigator, IDS-TILDA, Professor and Director, School of Social Work, Temple University, Philadelphia

• Prof Sean Kennelly, Consultant Physician in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, Tallaght University Hospital

• Prof Chris Hatton, Professor, Department of Social Care and Social Work, Manchester Metropolitan University

• Dr Alison Harnett, Chief Executive Officer, National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers

• Ms Maria Kavanagh, Director of Nursing, Stewarts Care

• Ms Mei Lin Yap, PPI Contributor

Report and Infographics

Download report in PDF Download infographics in PDF

Report launch event Thursday 27th January 2022