[Balance between structured activities and individual leisure time : Perceptions of retirement by people with intellectual and mental disabilities]

BACKGROUND

The number of people with intellectual disabilities reaching retirement age has risen by more than two thirds in the last decade.

OBJECTIVE

Due to the high number of retirements in this group of persons, the facilities for integration assistance are required to provide appropriate offers, both in terms of the transition to retirement and the course of retirement.

METHODS

Interviews on retirement planning were conducted with aspiring pensioners from several workshops for disabled people, which were mostly located in urban areas.

RESULTS

These interviews showed that people with intellectual and mental disabilities wanted a balance between structured group offers and individual privacy. Sporting and creative offers were perceived as positive. Maintaining interpersonal contact is very important for the respondents. The upcoming retirement was seen as positive by the majority of the respondents because of the associated "new freedom". Only a few worried about the financial situation in old age.

Occupational therapy, loneliness and social isolation: a thematic review of the literature

Background/Aims

Loneliness and social isolation are thought to have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. There is little literature that provides an explicit focus on loneliness and social isolation in occupational therapy practice. The aim of this study was to explore themes related to loneliness and social isolation in occupational therapy-related literature and consider the implications for practice.

Methods

CINAHL, Medline, Pub Med, AMed, PsycINFO, TRIP Database, and Science direct and Web of science databases were used to identify articles pertaining to occupational therapy, loneliness and social isolation.

Results

A total of 20 articles were included and three themes were identified: loneliness and social isolation are detrimental to health and wellbeing; factors associated with increased loneliness and social isolation; factors that protect against the impact of loneliness and social isolation.

Conclusions

Loneliness and social isolation have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of the people occupational therapists work with. Occupational therapy practice should include the recognition and assessment of loneliness and social isolation, and interventions to help reduce any impacts on health and wellbeing.