Adults with Mental Retardation

Mental retardation is considered to be a condition where in the development of the brain is behind most of the people and disorderly, which also comes before the age of 18 that impairs the ability to learn adequate and relevant skills and knowledge (Ainsworth & Baker, 2004).

In more simple terms, the condition of mental retardation is where a person’s mental capabilities are behind most people for the particular age group he/she belongs to (Patel, 2002). As these are life-long illnesses, these lasts up to the stage of people where they live as young and adults.

Mental retardation is indeed a serious condition in which the people with such case are suffering from different difficulties. Normally, a person that is diagnosed with such case, is seem to be of a lower capability to developed mentally, learn and solve problems on their own.

As such, mental retardation has within its scope the conditions wherein the person or individual with this diagnosis has a lower than average physical capability.

There are different types of mental retardation. First, clinical retardation is considered to be the type of mental retardation which is a result of a particular medical cause (Shepherd, 1982). It can be detected early and that this is associated with insufficiencies in terms of “neurological, metabolic, or physiological” (Shepherd, 1982, p. 174). The intelligence quotient of the individuals suffering from this is commonly lesser than 50 (Shepherd, 1982).

Second, there is also a form of mental retardation that is referred to as social cultural retardation that is milder and usually involves people who have intelligence quotient that ranges from 55 to 69 (Shepherd, 1982). There are several differences that are noticed from that of the first and this classification especially in terms of the degree to which they are disadvantaged (Shepherd, 1982).

Needs of Adults with Mental Retardation

With the several types of mental retardation and the broad range of illnesses associated with it, there are also different needs that are realized in light of these illnesses (Drew & Hardman, 2000).

There are several general needs that are required by the adults with mental retardation and while it can be seen that most people also have the same type of need, there are specific types of special attention that are required in light of the disabilities that they have.

First, there are residential services that are given to the young and old adults who are suffering from mental retardation (Hersen & Van Hasselt, 1998; Fluharty, 1988; Melillo & Houde, 2005).

It is realized that these adults require more time and a form of special medical attention that could not be given at home, there are shelters which provide for services for a fee.

There are changing patterns of familial relationships and set-ups especially with the greater demands such as the need of people to earn a greater rate of income. Likewise, lesser time is spent at home with more people being required to take additional hours at work to finish certain tasks and responsibilities.

Second, this particular group of people should have access to information (Walling & Irwin, 1995). The situation of these people is that their mental conditions are retarded or are impaired but it has to be realized that it is not totally absent.

While it may take them time for them to learn and acquire the necessary skills, knowledge, and abilities, patience would lead them to reach the normal condition where they are able to live a life that is near normal. Their state of mental retardation should not be the cause of them being deprived for information services. Rather, they should be the ones who are given a privilege and consideration for such to enable them to accomplish and live the life they are expected to live.

Third, there is a need for their mental health to be constantly monitored and given ample medications for individuals suffering from mental health conditions have a greater likelihood of acquiring mental problems (Thyer & Wodarski, 2007).

In cases where it is applicable, regular monitoring with a doctor is needed to ensure that the condition of the person is maintained to a healthy level and the risk of acquiring mental problems are kept at bay. It is proven that prevention is definitely better than cure and this holds true for mental health.

Fourth, the government should be able to provide a subsidy for the young and old adults in terms of their basic and medical needs. There are several programs that intend to provide for care with regard to the mental health of patients and it would be helpful if there are specific health advocacies which are intended mainly for the young and old adults and their needs.

This step would take a considerable amount of public lobbying especially for the funds that are required for it. Relevant studies and public policy analysis would have to be made for them with experts on the said field converging together with other authorities in order to come up with a comprehensive and implementable plan for the people with regard to their mental health and other needs.

With regard to their basic needs, identification and provision of such would also have to go through the same process in lieu of a stakeholder analysis.

Lastly, people with mental retardation also need a greater social sphere where they could interact and learn (Luchterhand & Murphy, 1998). They should not be deprived of the right to have social development and should not be isolated from other people simply because of the condition that they have. In fact, the social surrounding that is built for them would greatly help as they cope with the difficulties that they have to face.

Community Involvement

The primary factor in reaping community involvement is that of a heightened awareness in terms of the real setting that people with mental health retardation have to live in. There are several stereotypes that should be cleared and these include “lack of inhibitions and moral sense, rigidity, and attention seeking” (as cited in Wiener & Dulcan, 2004, p. 238).

Members of the community should be involved with programs that are intended to uplift the self-esteem and the living condition of young and old adults with mental retardation.

This should require them to deal from the first stage, which is the identification of the problems or the planning stage until the time where these programs are implemented. The members of the community could serve as volunteers and friends of young and old adults with mental retardation, which also broadens the social sphere of both groups (Switzky, Hickson, & Schalock, 2006).

Constant evaluation through the help of key persons in the community is also necessary to oversee the different problems and achievements that would serve as the constant motivating factor for the members of the initiative.

References

Ainsworth, P. & Baker, P. (2004). Understanding mental retardation: A resource for parents, caregivers, and counselors. USA: University Press of Mississippi.

Drew, C. & Hardman, M. (2000). Mental retardation: A life cycle approach. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.

Fluharty, S. (1988). International review of research in mental retardation. Vol. 20. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

Luchterhand, C. & Murphy, N. (1998). Helping adults with mental retardation grieve a death loss. NY: Brunner-Routledge.

Melillo, K. & Houde, S. (2005). Geropsychiatric and mental health nursing. Sadbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Patel, V. (2002). Where there is no psychiatrist: A mental health care manual. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Shepherd, M. (1982). Handbook of psychiatry. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Switzky, H., Hickson, L., Schalock, R. (2006). Mental retardation, personality, and motivational systems: Mental retardation, personality, and motivational systems. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

Thyer, B. & Wodarski, J. (2007). Social work in mental health: An evidence-based approach. NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Walling, L. & Irwin, M. (1995). Information services for people with developmental disabilities: The library manager’s handbook. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

Wiener, J. & Dulcan, M. (2004). Textbook of child and adolescent psychiatry. 3rd ed. USA: American Psychiatric Publishing.