Ageing

2. Ageing process

2.3. Thoughts from people with ID about ageing

Often, PWID experience that other people are defining their life and life expectations. The social model emphasises people’s ability to discuss their life openly, which is essential for the influences, knowledge and concern society should have for the situation of people with disabilities: “… ‘who we are’ (are prevented from being), and how we feel and think about ourselves” (5:46). 

Older people with ID have lived a long life and you may hear surprising thoughts about their life, even if you belong to their family and have listened to them before.

Photo: Britt-Evy Westergård

Lars Aage: What I primarily think in terms of growing old, is that we must never be spoiled by the wrinkles that comes in our face and above all, because this is a part of the charm and the process of getting old.

The other thing I think about, is that I have to think differently than I did before, when I was young, e.g. I need more help in daily tasks. Most people like me are offered public services, but this is gaining weight in the aging process, both in order to take their medicine and going out.

Ageing starts earlier when you have an ID. Therefore, we need help sooner than others. If it comes to a time in my life, when I cannot do any of the daily tasks or know where I am and what my name is, it is very necessary to go to a nursing home. I deliberately opted for group accommodation for my part, but this should be an opportunity for those who want such an offer. It is important to have all the possibilities - then choose. This is what I think now, but later I may think differently, that is my right to do.

It is important that people are taken care of and that you live in a safe place. It is important that you feel accepted as a person, a person who needs more or less help than others in the same situation.

It is important to get courses and easy-to-read information, material about the community's services and offers in the form of internet pages, booklets, info sheets and books. We are all different, so it is important that books cover different needs. For some, audio books are important. Accessibility in order to be a part of society is very important. This applies to both physical accessibility (e.g. elevator, wheelchair rampage) and easy-to-read labeling with symbols and icons (e.g. color marking) to public buildings and homes designed for disabled people.

It is important that people talk to us as adults, whether or not we have an ID. Talk straight to the person, look the person in the eyes and be in the same 'level' as the person e.g. take into account people who sit in a wheelchair or not understand difficult concepts or foreign words.

Now, when I am an adult and starting to be old, the most important change for me is the time I have for myself! I will decide the time myself! I want time to help others. I want to be with others in recreational activities and have more time with family and friends.

Torill: I notice my years now, and everything I have been through. Now when I'm older, it’s easier to forget what happened before. I forget more often. That's the memory I have now. I know I was good at remembering, but now it's not always so easy. Sometimes I’m stuck and do not 'get' the words I want to say. I'm now nearly 60 years old. But there are some good years left. I do not know how I will live. Death will be something new for me (6:34).

There are some myth about older adults with ID that may be wrong.  Three of these myths are that older adults with ID:

• feel insecure about new situations and new tasks, 
• are influenced by their painful past and so feel less confident because of this, 
• like to relax most of the time.

In a Norwegian study, 75% said they like surprises, almost 90% liked to travel and over 50% liked to be active and to have many things to do every day (7). This study tells us that there is a gap between what people tell you about themselves and what others believe.