Service needs of community and institution-based older persons with a developmental handicap in Alberta, Canada

Older persons (age 45 and older) with a developmental handicap residing in either community or institutional settings were compared for their current use of and need for social and habilitative services. These comparisons were based on data arising from a province-wide survey of older developmentally handicapped individuals (n=742). Although there was a disproportionate representation of all individuals in the institutional environment (56.5%), those residing within congregate care settings in the community (i.e., within lodges, extended care centres, nursing homes and auxiliary hospitals) demonstrated significantly higher frequencies of health impairments (e.g., obesity, edema, paralysis, and musculoskeletal and neurological impairments). In the area of independence capacity skills (i.e., banking, laundry, public transportation, shopping, telephone usage, and meal preparation), those individuals involved in community-based vocational, residential, or other programs coordinated by associations or Social S...