Caring for adults with mental disabilities. Problems tend to be complex among this growing population

Providing medical care for patients with mental disabilities may be challenging and financially unappealing because of the need for extra time and effort. Nonetheless, primary care physicians can meet the medical needs of these patients and benefit from working with a team approach that fosters open communication and documentation of potential barriers and preferences. Development of healthcare maintenance guidelines that can be easily individualized is also beneficial. Advanced planning and a willingness to learn help the clinician overcome the challenges and develop a strong patient-provider relationship that can be very rewarding.