Meg Ann Traci, PhD¹, Donna Bainbridge, PT, EdD, ATC², Tom Seekins, PhD¹, and Rod Brod, PhD¹. (1) The University of Montana Rural Institute, 52 Corbin Hall, Missoula, MT 59812, 406-243-4956, matraci@ruralinstitute.umt.edu, (2) Rural Institute, University of Montana, 52 Corbin Hall, Missoula, MT 59812

The environment is a major contributing factor in producing secondary conditions and in limiting participation. Personal Assistants (PAs) are critical and dynamic features of the support environment for adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) living in supported living arrangements; PAs are important supports for performng healthy lifestyle behaviors. At the same time, turnover among personal assistants is occurring at alarmingly high rates. Our previous survey research suggested that a change in a PA was associated with higher rates and severity levels of limitation due to secondary conditions. The current paper presents new data from a longitudinal study of the relationship between PA stability and secondary conditions. These data were collected with 350 consenting adults with ID (M age=.44.0; 43.7% female; 6.4% Native American or Alaskan Native; 91.3% reported mental retardation as a primary disability) and their direct care providers completing a secondary conditions surveillance tool and a modified life changes scale. Preliminary results indicate additional support for the relationships observed in our prior research. Specifically, respondents who experienced a stressful PA change in the previous three months, also experienced more limitation associated with secondary conditions as measured by scores of the number of limiting secondary conditions (t(99.3)=-2.44, p<.05)and sum of severity ratings associated with those conditions (t(90.7)=-2.55, p<.05). Significant between group differences were observed for ten of the 45 secondary conditions on the survey including, five of the six injury-related conditions. Results are discussed as costs to the individual and the service system.

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives

• Recognize the importance of personal assistants in the prevention of secondary conditions.
• Identify secondary conditions limiting the participation of adults with intellectual disabilities.
• Describe a relationship between a stable direct service workforce and limitation associated with secondary conditions.

Keywords: Personal Assistance, Injury Risk

Related Web page: mtdh.ruralinstitute.umt.edu

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.