Grant: Op Gr.: Mech. in Brain Aging/dementia-Caregiving/Care Prov. + Aging with Neurod.

Adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD), a group who has been historically excluded from research and grossly underserved within health care, encounter unique challenges as they age, as do their family caregivers. There is a need to help them to age well, and get the help they need when they show signs of dementia or other aging related health concerns. Our project will teach older adults with IDD, and older family caregivers, as well as people who work with these groups of individuals from across Canada about how to promote brain health and screen for health problems. Building off of our earlier work, we will work together with people with disabilities and families to co-design and co-deliver virtual courses that teach these groups the important skills they need to take care of their health as they age. We plan to offer our virtual programs four times over two years, reaching 560 individuals from across the country, and we will evaluate short term and longer term outcomes of these programs. Our team will bring together people with IDD, aging family caregivers, and scientists and clinicians who have expertise in aging and dementia with those who have expertise in IDD health.