Adult Day Services for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Scoping Review

Adult day services (ADS) are therapeutic, social, and health-related activities that keep people in their homes, rather than institutional settings. While there is a growing body of literature on ADS for older adults, there is far less information available about ADS for younger adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDDs).

Researchers conducted a scoping review of 6 databases (892 total articles).

After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 74 full articles were reviewed, with 10 articles meeting study requirements. The research team found the literature is limited to simple descriptive reports or interventions that use ADS as a platform.

Simply put, we know very little about the services provided to younger adults with IDD in ADS. Implications for future research are discussed, including the need to catalog the services offered in ADS for younger adults with IDD and to evaluate their impact on participant well-being.