News

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.

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.

On September 6th, an exciting event, led by Stephanie Corrigan and Prof Éilish Burke, on Sexual and Reproductive Health for women with intellectual disabilities took place. Gathering women with intellectual disabilities, thier carers, and healthcare professionals, the event addressed key health topics like contraception and menopause, sharing important research, and encouraging open discussion on historically neglected issues like consent and reproductive rights. The event aimed to end the taboo and ensure women with intellectual disabilities are included in these vital conversations. Aligning with ongoing efforts to improve healthcare access for women with intellectual disabilities.

TCAID in partnership with Donegal HSE Disability Services and NMPDU hosted a one-day conference on the 13th September in Donegal entitled "Longitudinal Dynamics in the Ageing of People with an Intellectual Disability: How Evidence from IDS TILDA can inform and support strategic planning and service delivery." The conference aimed to explore the health and social outcomes of people with intellectual disabilities as they age, featuring presentations on multimorbidity, physical health trajectories, and brain health, and drawing on longitudinal evidence from IDS-TILDA. The event included discussions on how this evidence can inform strategic planning and service delivery within disability services, with a focus on enhancing social inclusion and community participation.

As part of the EQUIP Project, a webinar titled "Psychotropic Use in People with Intellectual Disabilities - How Evidence from the EQUIP Study can Inform and Support Policy and Practice" was held to disseminate the project’s key findings. The event explored the implications of these findings and discussed how they can inform and shape future policy and practice to enhance health outcomes and improve the quality of life for older adults with intellectual disabilities.

Last week, TCAID collegues attended the IASSIDD world congress in Chicago. The team connected with fellow researchers, delivered 34 impactful presentations and engaged in collaborative symposiums and round-table discussions on cutting-edge research and best practice. In exciting news, Professor Mary McCarron took to the stage at the conference to officially announce that the next IASSIDD World Congress will be hosted in Dublin in 2027.

PhD student Lamya Al Shuhaimi shared her research findings from her study titled ’Enhancing Medicine Use in Older Adults with Intellectual Disabilities’ at the 2024 3 Minute Thesis competition at Trinity College Dublin. Her research focuses on the adverse effects of long-term anticholinergic use in older adults with intellectual disabilities. At this highly competitive event, where eight skilled speakers each had three minutes to present their research using a single slide, Lamya was awarded both the Runner-Up and People’s Choice Award.

See the full video of Lamya’s presentation on our Videos page

On 30th May 2024 TCAID members spoke at a one-day conference organised in partnership with St. Joseph’s Foundation in Cork. The event aimed to utilise findings from five waves of IDS-TILDA, to inform and support an evidence-based approach to St. Joseph’s Foundation’s future strategic planning

Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability were delighted to host the Horizon 21 consortium, an international research group that aims to identify and prevent the factors influencing the development of Alzheimer’s Disease in people with Down Syndrome.

We are excited to announce the release of the latest episodes in Tallaght University Hospitals "Lets Talk About Down Syndrome" podcast series! Join Geraldine Kyle, a registered nurse tutor at TUH and mother of a young adult with Down syndrome, as she hosts insightful conversations with experts including Professor Sean Kennelly, Evelyn Reilly, and Professor Mary McCarron.

On May 21st Prof Mary McCarron presented an inagural lecture at Queens University Belfast, where she shared her inspiring journey as a nurse, academic, and leader dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities across the globe.

The EuCan study is seeking members to join a Steering Group to shape accessible cancer care in Ireland. If you are over the age of 65 or have a physical or intellectual disability and have experienced cancer, we want to hear from you!

Insufficient data on the oral health of people with intellectual disabilities contributes to health disparities, disease burden and often leads to oral disability. In March Katrina Byrne, PhD student and RNID, and Dr Caoimhin Mac Giolla Phadraig, Assistant Professor, led a training day with a group of nurses working in Intellectual disability services and dental professionals on the Modified Oral Status Survey Tool (MOSST), which aims to empower RNIDs to collect valid and reliable data on oral health and oral health needs within their services.

To mark World Down Syndrome Day 2024, we decided to focus on women with Down syndrome to raise awareness of the poor health outcomes often faced by these women. We asked women with Down syndrome from all over the world to tell us what health means to them and how they choose to End the Stereotypes each day.

TCAID are excited to announce the launch of our new study ‘Exploring the Unmet Needs of Irish Cancer Patients from Underserved Communities – EuCan’. We will be exploring timely access to cancer diagnosis in underserved communities using a mixed methods approach. This study is funded by the Irish Cancer Society.

TCAID presented their projects accessible multimedia resources, including a downloadable booklet and videos featuring the lived experiences of six individuals with intellectual disabilities on Thursday, 7th December 2023. We hope that others can learn from the wonderful examples of supportive relationships demonstrated by our participants in these videos.

IDS-TILDA wave 5 report was formally launched by Minister of State for Disability at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Anne Rabbitte, TD. The Minister’s address reflected the government’s acknowledgement of the significance of research on the ageing of adults with an intellectual disability. Her address emphasised the importance of IDS-TILDA in shaping policies and support systems for adults with an intellectual disability.

We would like to invite prescribers to contribute their views and perspectives on the use of anticholinergic medications among older adults with intellectual disability. The study is conducted by Lamya Al Shuhaimi (PhD student) as a part of her PhD work from the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, Trinity College Dublin and within the research group of the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging IDS-TILDA.

With immense pride, we present the 2020/21 Annual Report, inviting you to explore the Centres accomplishments and ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive and empowering future for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Professor McCarron launched the five year strategy for the Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability. Entitled Adding Life to Years, Building better lives for people ageing with an intellectual disability through research and partnership

For World Down Syndrome Day 2023, we celebrate the positive difference that people with Down syndrome have made to our working lives, with huge thanks to our colleague Ms Mei Lin Yap, TCAID Ambassador Liason Officer.

Please join us for a Celebration of Brain Health in People with Down syndrome as part of Creative Brain Week on 9th March from 10-12.15. Life expectancy, opportunities, social understanding and general awareness of people with Down syndrome has transformed in the last 50 years. A cause for Joy.But not one that is uncomplicated – people with Down syndrome have a genetic risk to develop Alzheimers disease. To start our day on Joy people with Down syndrome talk about the joy of the journey they have made as well as input from leading scientists across Europe on where dementia research is leading and why people with Down syndrome should be included on that journey. Tickets are free by have to be reserved.  Register today.

The National Disability Authority (NDA) and TCAID invite you to the launch of the The Care of Older Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Complex Age-Related Conditions report on Thurs 19th of Jan 2023 at 12:00 – 13:15. The NDA commissioned TCAID to carry out research to examine the care and service options for older adults with intellectual disabilities and complex age-related conditions across a number of service settings. The presentation of the findings and recommendations will be followed by a panel discussion and a question and answer session. Register today.

On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, TCAID celebrated the abilities of people with an Intellectual Disability and highlighted the value and benefits of inclusion. Ms Mei Lin Yap and Ms Christina Corr met with the Provost to talk of their experience about what it is like to work in Trinity College Dublin, their respective roles and career development in TCAID and the impact it has on their lives

For Palliative Care Week 2022, The Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability (TCAID) hosted an online webinar - End of Life Care for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities on Tuesday 13 September 2022 at 14:00 - 15:15pm via Zoom. Prof. Mary McCarron launched the book End of Life and People with Intellectual and Developmental Disability - Contemporary Issues, Challenges, Experiences and Practice. Dr. Karen Ryan delivered the keynote on The Process of Dying.

IDS-TILDA are hiring for Field Researchers to assist with the wave 5 data collection. We are offering flexible, specific purpose contracts with a fixed rate per interview. Click here for more information

Transforming services for people ageing with an intellectual disability, the new Memory Service is a fusing of the expertise at the specialist regional memory service in Tallaght University Hospital, with the extensive knowledge on dementia in people with intellectual disability at the Trinity Centre for Ageing & Intellectual Disability and with the expertise of a well-established dementia specific service and memory clinic for people with ID at AVISTA (previously known as the Daughters of Charity).

Professor Mary McCarron presented in Leinster House at an #Oireachtas briefing with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland on the importance of Brain health. Professor McCarron highlighted the need to focus on the criticalness of brain health in terms of dementia prevention. The National Intellectual Disability Memory Service aims to provide access for every individual with an intellectual disability in Ireland to a Brain Health Clinic and to specialist assessment and comprehensive diagnostic work-up for memory concerns.

The School of Nursing and Midwifery Trinity Health and Education International Research Conference is scheduled to take place on 8th – 10th March 2022. The Healthy Ageing and Intellectual Disability stage will have 38 presentations across 13 sessions including keynote presentations from Prof. Mary McCarron,  Professor of Ageing and Intellectual Disability, Trinity College Dublin, Prof. Irene Tuffrey-Wijne, Professor of Intellectual Disability and Palliative Care, Kingston, University London, Prof. Chris Hatton, Professor, Department of Social Care and Social Work, Manchester Metropolitan University and Dr. Dederieke Maes-Festen, Physician for People with Intellectual Disability, Erasmus MC. There will also be a workshop facilitated by Prof. Mary McCarron and Mr. Michael Foley on Better PPI, better research: building the quality of your public and patient involvement to benefit your research cycle scheduled for 8th March 2022. Click here to register

Minister Anne Rabbitte, TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, formally launched ‘Overcoming Adversity: The Continuing Impact of COVID-19 on People Ageing with an Intellectual Disability in Ireland - Findings from the Intellectual Disability Supplement to The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) COVID-19 Sub-Study’ Report on Thursday 27th January at 2pm. Watch the event and read the report here

"One of the most significant studies on the ageing of people with an intellectual disability in the world commemorates those who have played a significant role in its research"

As part of Palliative Care Week the Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, with support from the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care, invites you to register for this informative event chaired by Prof. Mary McCarron at 11.00am on Monday 13th September 2021

Miss Mei Lin Yap delivered her presentation on Digital Skills Education to support better health, well-being and social inclusion outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities. Click here to view Mei Lins excellent presentation.

We are delighted to announce that Director of TCAID, Prof Mary McCarron, will be a keynote speaker at the Ageing Well with Dementia and Learning Disabilities conference which takes place on June 22-24.

The European Union funded EIT Health Campus scheme have awarded Dr. Esther Murphy, our Trinity Centre for Ageing & Intellectual Disability’s (TCAID) Technology and Innovation Lead approx. €414,000 to lead as Principal Investigator our new Pan European interdisciplinary project; Digi-ID - Digital skills education to support health and social inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities. Digi-ID aims to address the challenge of digital inclusion and low usage of digital technologies amongst people with intellectual disabilities. Read more here

TCAID is proud to announce that TCD PPI Ignite has received a funding award from the Health Research Board and Irish Research Council to continue until 2025. Recognised as leaders in advancing meaningful public and patient involvement, the TCD Ignite Office will join the national network and lead out on efforts to improve the quality of approaches, as well as impact assessment over the next five years.  This funding award recognises Prof. Mary McCarron and Michael Foley for their outstanding contributions to date and their focus on advancing meaningful opportunities for engagement and involvement.  We have a lot to look forward to.

We are delighted to be able to inform you that, to mark International Day of People with Disabilities, Minister Anne Rabbitte, TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Disability will be launching our IDS-TILDA Wave 4 report exploring the experiences of people with an intellectual disability during COVID-19. The report is based on the findings of the questions we asked IDS-TILDA participants during the early stages of the pandemic. Click here to register

The focus of this series of masterclasses is to help us to reflect on, and to plan for, how we can optimise high-quality person-centred dementia care for people with an intellectual disability. Every masterclass will build on each other and look at the challenges and opportunities in care across the continuum of dementia. The masterclass series will be led by Prof Mary McCarron, Executive Director, NIDMS Director of the Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, Prof Seán Kennelly, Clinical Director, NIDMS and Consultant Physician in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, Tallaght University Hospital and Evelyn Reilly, cANP in Dementia and Intellectual Disability, NIDMS and the Daughters of Charity Disability Support Service. This masterclass series is a preparatory session for - All clinical and multidisciplinary support staff members and families who provide supports to people with dementia or at risk of developing dementia and families and staff who provide supports to people at the end stages of life. Click here to register

As many plants which adorn offices today are wilting if not dead, Catherine O Connor has come up with a brilliant idea. She is currently caring for this peace lily, which will be presented back to the TCAID office when we all return after COVID-19

This weeks episode of In the Community Features Dr Eilish Burke and Dr Esther Murphy discussing the Get Wise project and how its helping people with an Intellectual Disability manage their health.

Tools that research charities can use to start good PPI relationships

The Irish Research Council has awarded our Technology & Innovation Lead Dr. Esther Murphy funding under the New Foundations scheme which supports researchers to pursue research, networking and dissemination activities within and between all disciplines.

Programmes will blend the flexibility of online modules with short, intense, face-to-face learning experiences. Students will learn alongside world leaders in the field, will participate in, contribute to and enjoy world-class intellectual disability practice and research, and will be prepared as leaders in quality, leadership and person-centred care for people with an intellectual disability as they age. Click here for more information.

People with an intellectual disability of all ages are particularly vulnerable to adverse outcomes associated with Covid-19, warns Prof Mary McCarron, Professor of Ageing and Intellectual Disability at the Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability.

All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care is collaborating with the Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability and The Daughters of Charity Disability Support Service, St Francis Hospice Raheny, and Tallaght University Hospital to deliver a Project ECHO AIIHPC webinar for Intellectual Disability Services on How to support people with intellectual disabilities with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Click here to register and more information

People of all ages with an intellectual disability are particularly vulnerable to adverse outcomes associated with COVID-19 warns Mary McCarron, Professor of Ageing and Intellectual Disability at the Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability- TCAID

The School of Nursing and Midwifery Trinity College Dublin seeks to appoint an Assistant Professor in Intellectual Disability. Full details available at http://jobs.tcd.ie Job ID: 033826 Close Date: 24-May-2019

Join us on Wednesday for a screening of IDS-TILDA Ageing with PrIDe documentary & a discussion about ageing with an intellectual disability, featuring the star of the show Mei Lin Yap in conversation with TCD researchers Eric Lacey & Eimear McGlinchey.

The Trinity Centre for Ageing with an Intellectual Disability (TCAID) marked World Down Syndrome Day 2019 by hosting a summit that presented 20 years of research on Down syndrome and dementia, exploring the latest in the science. Research findings from TCAID and others means that Ireland now has one of the richest data sets in the world on the health and well-being of adults with an intellectual disability. This research has shown that the risk of dementia is very high in people with Down syndrome.

Dementia in people with Down syndrome is a one-day seminar, hosted by Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability, which explores the latest findings in the area of brain health, cognitive ageing and dementia among people with Down syndrome. Learners will explore symptom recognition, assessment tools, biomarkers, advances in treatments and relevant infrastructure to support healthy, happy ageing. Book a place on https://bit.ly/2GeI6WT or contact Mr Gavin Dann, Senior Executive Officer on Email: danng@tcd.ie or by Phone: (01) 896 3186.

A half-day symposium on Ageing and Intellectual Disability is happening On Thursday, 7 March 2019 as part of the Trinity College Dublin School of Nursing and Midwifery Research School. Papers to be presented on the day include a keynote by the Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences and Director of TCAID, Prof Mary McCarron entitled: The future is now: RNID-led research and practice advancing excellence in care for people with intellectual disability. There will also be papers on end-of-life care needs, transition from congregated settings, Person Centred Planning, oral health and assisted decision making.

In January 2019, we will be running the popular Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) on improving healthcare and health assessments for people with intellectual disabilities. The course is aimed at healthcare professionals, care providers and others who work with people with an intellectual disability. Over three weeks, the free online course will explore best practice techniques for communication, assessment, and developing accessible materials for people with an intellectual disability. It is now open for registration on the FutureLearn platform and starts on the 21st January, 2019. It is led by Dr Eilish Burke, Ussher Assistant Professor in Ageing and Intellectual Disability at Trinity College Dublin and the Associate Director of the Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability.

People with intellectual disabilities from six different services met in Trinity College Dublin to celebrate the culmination of a year-long physical activity leadership project, PPALs. The PPALs project is about empowering people with ID to make their communities healthier by becoming Physical Activity Leaders and today saw the newly trained PPALs awarded their certificates of completion by Minister Catherine Byrne, TD and rugby player Rob Kearney.

Can the Montessori approach create a prepared environment so that adults with dementia can stay in their own communities for longer? Join the Community Conversation!

IDS-TILDA has been selected as the national exemplar of responsible research and innovation and is included in the Horizon 2020-funded SPARKS Exhibition at Science Gallery Dublin from Tuesday, January 9, 2018 to Sunday, February 18, 2018. This evening, Professor Mary McCarron, Principal Investigator, IDS-TILDA and Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, will launch the SPARKS Exhibition and speak to the team’s experience in leading public/patient involvement in research. A few seats are available for tonight’s launch and you can register here:

Professor Mary McCarron, is to launch the Wave 3 Report: Health, Wellbeing and Social Inclusion: Ageing with an Intellectual Disability in Ireland, Evidence from the First Ten Years of The Intellectual Disability Supplement to The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA). The launch will take place on the 4 December 2017 at 11am - 1pm in Wood Quay Venue, Dublin City Council,Dublin 8. This is a free event and seats are limited. Please reserve your ticket here

Learn different ways to improve healthcare and health assessments for people with intellectual disabilities with this course for healthcare professionals.