ALZHEIMER-DISEASE IN A SELECT POPULATION OF OLDER ADULTS WITH MENTAL-RETARDATION

Twenty New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental D isabilities district offices were surveyed to determine the prevalence of older adults with mental retardation who also had suspected or dia gnosed Alzheimer disease (AD). The survey identified 123 individuals i n this category, about 1% of an overall case roll of 10,878 people of 40 years of age and older for the 17 reporting offices. Of these 123 i ndividuals, 64% were people with Down syndrome. Typically, a person wi th suspected Alzheimer disease was identified through staff observatio n or report of changes in behaviour leading to suspicion of Alzheimer disease. Information on training needs indicated that a workshop on AD was a primary need. Training in various content areas was indicated, including confirming suspicions, diagnosis, programming and individual programme planning.