In 2006, Peabody-based social and human services agency Bridgewell opened one of the first residential programs in the state for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who are experiencing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Bridgewell Program Director Justine Rudgis has worked with the organization for 23 years, providing support for these individuals and training staff and other professionals to empower people with IDD to live safely, productively, and with autonomy.
“We’re living with folks who are living a lot longer due to getting better medical care,” Rudgis said. “There’s been a big push for healthcare coordination for individuals with intellectual disabilities, making sure they get the basics of annual physicals, annual dental care, and follow-ups with specialists as needed.”
As a result, people with IDD are living longer, and these communities are seeing more cases of age-related health issues. This can create challenges for their living situations, whether in a supported residence or with families at home.
“Twenty or 30 years ago, the predicted lifespan for someone with Down syndrome was much lower than it is now, and that’s true for some of the other disabilities we work with,” Rudgis said. “As people age, you’re looking at, ‘Does my house suit my purposes as I’m getting older?’ I think this is the same for people with disabilities.”
With a greater focus on this often-overlooked population’s health, Bridgewell is addressing a gap in care for aging individuals with IDD.
Many of Bridgewell’s residences, built decades ago, had stairs leading to their entrances. Newer programs are improving accessibility, allowing individuals to age in place without uprooting their lives.
“For a lot of the individuals that I work with, their roommates and some of their staff have really become family to them, so it’s very distressing if they have to move out of those situations to a completely different home,” Rudgis said.
Like all people, individuals with IDD form bonds with their neighbors and integrate into their communities. Bridgewell and Rudgis work to protect this social right, ensuring that everyone, especially those vulnerable to an inaccessible world, can maintain their connections and sense of belonging.
