A recent study led by Dr. Vilma Maria Vera Pezo, Senior Registrar, Home-Based Treatment Team, South Lee Mental Health Services, Cork University Hospital (HSE), utilizing data from the Intellectual Disability Supplement to The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA), sheds light on the use of psychotropic medications in adults with intellectual disabilities. The findings highlight key concerns regarding prescribing patterns and associated health risks in this vulnerable population.

TCAID is thrilled to share that Dr. Eimear McGlinchey has been awarded the Civic Engagement Award for Teaching and Learning for her work in supporting the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities within the School of Nursing and Midwifery nursing programme. Dr. McGlincheys project is focused on creating resources to support the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities as co-educators and participants in assessments within the intellectual disability nursing program.

As 2024 comes to a close, the Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability (TCAID) celebrates a year of meaningful progress. Through impactful research, strategic collaborations, and evidence-based initiatives, we have advanced understanding and improved care for adults with intellectual disabilities. This year’s achievements strengthen our resolve to drive change, and we look forward to building on this momentum in 2025 to further enhance health, support, and outcomes in the field.

Join the AIIHPC Early Career Research Forum as they hear from Prof Mary McCarron as she shares her her insights on leadership across academia, research and health care.Find the full webinar available here.

On November 6, Professor Mary McCarron, Professor Eilish Burke, Dr Martin McMahon and Dr Eimear McGlinchey, presented to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters about improving life quality and longevity for people with disabilities, discussing findings from IDS-TILDA. Key points included progress in community inclusion, the vital role of Registered Intellectual Disability Nurses, and challenges like limited resources, healthcare inequities, and gaps in research on specific health issues affecting this population.

IDEAS 2024, held on 17-18 October 2024, marked a gathering of experts, researchers, service providers, and advocates committed to translating leading-edge research into impactful practices. Organised by the Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability (TCAID) in collaboration with the National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers and the HSE’s National Clinical Programme for People with Disability, the event demonstrated the critical role of evidence in shaping policy, the conference aimed to bridge research and practice. The conference empowered those who work with ageing individuals with intellectual disabilities to drive meaningful improvements in their care and quality of life.