STUDY: Support and accompaniment of elderly/old people with life-long intellectual disability or high support needs in Austria

About the Project

Research Topic & Roadmap

The aim of this study is to gain a comprehensive and deep insight into the living situation as well as support and assistance of elderly and old people with life-long intellectual disabilities or with high support needs in Austria. The study is intended to lay an important foundation for more participation opportunities in society and a good quality of life also in old age. The team of the programme line “Social Justice for Disadvantaged Persons” of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights (LBI-GMR) is working on this under the lead of querraum. kultur- und sozialforschung from August 2021 to August 2022 on behalf of Lebenshilfen Soziale Dienste.

Research Focus

In order to draw a comprehensive picture of the affected group, the study addresses different levels and target groups. Thus, not only the support situation, especially at the facility level, is to be surveyed, but also the subjective view of the target group itself.

The project addresses:

  • elderly (50+) and old people (70+) with lifelong intellectual disabilities or high support needs in Austria
  • self-representatives and staff from institutions
  • support organisations and institutions for people with disabilities and care
  • experts from the field of care, disability care, human rights control, representation network, etc.

Research Method

The project uses different quantitative and qualitative methods:

  • comprehensive literature research on the legal financial framework at federal and provincial level
  • expert interviews in the field of care, disability care, human rights control, representation network, etc.
  • online survey with providers and institutions of care and support for people with disabilities
  • focus group interviews with self-advocates and staff from institutions
  • in-depth interviews with older people (50+) and elderly people (70+) with lifelong intellectual disabilities or high support needs throughout Austria

Project Data