A significant number of people with intellectual disabilities are not involved in decisions about changes to their housing, new research has shown.

The research focused on 120 adults with intellectual disabilities, who changed their place of residence. It found that 40% of them did not want to move and just 30% were involved in the decision to move.

Just 20% of the people viewed alternative options before moving.

According to the researchers from Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Ireland is now entering a ‘post-institutional' era, with Government policy now focused on moving people out of institutions and into community-based residences.

Among the 120 people moved, 60% were moved to similar types of residences, 27% were moved to community-based settings and 13% were moved to more restrictive settings.

Prof Mary McCarron of TCD is principal investigator of IDS-TILDA, the first national study investigating the health and wellbeing of more than 700 people over the age of 40 with an intellectual disability in Ireland. She pointed out that moving people from institutional settings to community-based settings ‘presents both challenges and opportunities'.

"It is a complex issue and progress has been slow to date. Significant challenges exist in the provision of health and social care in the community setting for some people with intellectual disabilities. But that should not stop the process of moving people to environments where they will have more choice and more engagement with their local community," she commented.

However, she insisted that this issue is ‘not just about housing'.

"We need to be working on technologies and other supports that will increase success in community movement and living. We must be very cautious of drawing any conclusions that perhaps this movement to the community is too difficult or that we should re-look at using institutional responses. That would be a retrograde and backward step. We need to refocus our attention on what's needed to support people living meaningful lives in the community," Prof McCarron said.

Meanwhile, the researchers also emphasised that a one size fits all approach is not suitable when dealing with people with intellectual disabilities, as they are not a homogenous group.

"Living in the community is not simply about geographical location. We need to have a real understanding of what community is. It is about friends, relationships and opportunities.

"To continue to support this policy of moving people with intellectual disabilities from institutional settings to community-based alternatives, we need to ensure the right supports and structures are there to help and assist them to truly engage in a meaningful way with their community," Prof McCarron added.

She made her comments at an international summit on ageing with an intellectual disability, which was the inaugural event of the newly established Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability. This is an international and multidisciplinary research centre, which aims to examine key issues in ageing, while informing policy and debate at national and local level.

For more information on the centre, click here