Growing older with intellectual and developmental disabilities: Implementing and evaluating a project ECHO for...

The needs of the rapidly expanding population of adults growing older with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families span both the IDD and the aging service systems. The use of Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) for professional education can bridge gaps and span boundaries between them at the macro, meso, and micro levels. A series of 10 ECHO sessions over 12 months was developed, incorporating key content on IDD and AD/ADRD for 145 providers in over 20 agencies. Impacts were assessed by a follow-up survey sent to participants after each program. The evaluation included quantitative assessment of ECHO features and a retrospective pre- and posttest of knowledge acquisition; a separate item assessed intention to apply information. Qualitative data were collected from open-ended items. The case presentation and discussion were the most effective ECHO components. Knowledge acquisition was significant for all sessions; most important uses included providing better care to clients/patients, training staff, and educating family and/or caregivers. Participants were aligned with two distinct groups, one with a predominant knowledge focus, the other with an emphasis on networking. Project ECHO can bridge gaps and span boundaries between the IDD and aging care systems at multiple levels, improving interprofessional collaboration and care by addressing both knowledge and networking needs of providers.