Experiences of Performing Daily Activities in Middle-Aged and Older Autistic Adults: A Qualitative Study
Ye In Hwang, Kitty‐Rose Foley, Kieran Elley, Scott Brown, Dawn Joy-Leong, Xue Li, Rachel Grove, Julian N. Trollor, Elizabeth Pellicano, Lidan Zheng
Abstract
This is the first study to investigate instrumental activities of daily living in older autistic adults. We conducted interviews with fifteen adults (mean age = 60.1, SD = 7.4, range = 50-73) from Australia with no intellectual disability. Analysis included both deductive and inductive steps, to categorise responses using the Occupational Performance Model Australia and identify themes across participants' experiences. Strengths and challenges were unique to the individual, as were the methods they had developed to manage tasks. Challenges occurred mostly at the interaction between aspects of the environment (sensory, cognitive, social and cultural) and personal factors such as health conditions and sensory sensitivities. Enhanced person-environment fit is needed, as is a shift in wider sociocultural attitudes to enable comfort and autonomy in later life.