[Promotion and maintenance of independence in older people with intellectual disability-results of an intervention study].

Results of gerontological research have seldom been used for the development of new concepts for housing, promotion and supply in people with intellectual disability. However, recent findings from international studies support the assumption that capability to learn and plasticity are also apparent in people with intellectual disability. The present study was designed as an empirical test of this assumption. As a theoretical starting point we describe competence as a comprehensive construct which integrates aspects of independence, self-responsibility, self-determination and experienced meaning of life. Moreover, the construct of competence refers to the impact of the physical, social, and infrastructural environment on the aforementioned aspects. We hypothesised that independent living in older people with intellectual disability could be enhanced by a more differentiated perception of respective potentials by the members of the institutional staff. An intervention program for caregivers was developed to initiate an examination of their own behaviour in daily interaction with intellectually disabled residents, particularly in terms of a possible support of dependent and ignorance of independent behaviour. We expected that unmasking contingencies between behaviour of care-givers and dependency in intellectual disabled residents should lead to increases in residents' independent behaviour and everyday competence. 40 intellectually disabled residents and 40 staff members participated in the present study. Videotapes were used to assess behaviour of staff members and residents in daily care and support. Moreover, a questionnaire was developed for further assessment of independence and everyday competence in intellectually disabled residents. Effects of the developed intervention program were tested with a pre-post-control group-design. Results show highly significant increases in residents' independence and everyday competence. Therefore, our hypothesis that independent living in older people with intellectual disability could be enhanced by a more differentiated perception of existing potentials by the members of the institutional staff received strong support.