Experience of Aging in Elderly Workers with Developmental Disabilities and the Meaning of Work as a Strategy for Aging: A Theoretical Approach from the Perspectives of Individuals with Disabilities and Their Families

Abstract

This study examines the experiences of aging and Work life among elderly individuals with developmental disabilities and analyzes the meaning of employment and support measures as strategies for addressing their aging process. To achieve this, in-depth interviews were conducted with employed individuals with developmental disabilities aged 40 and above, as well as with families of elderly individuals with developmental disabilities. The research findings reveal the following key elements: as causal conditions, the phenomenon of aging in individuals with developmental disabilities; as contextual conditions, the social realities perceived by elderly individuals with developmental disabilities; as the central phenomenon, perceptions regarding aging among individuals with developmental disabilities; as intervening conditions, responses to the aging process in individuals with developmental disabilities; as strategies for action/interaction, coping mechanisms for aging among individuals with developmental disabilities; and as outcomes, changes resulting from the Work life of elderly individuals with developmental disabilities and their demands for support in achieving a stable life in old age. The derived categories were structured and examined in relation to the conditions and categories using the paradigm analysis framework of grounded theory. Based on these findings, policy implications and recommendations for practice are suggested to promote a stable and fulfilling life in old age for individuals with developmental disabilities, drawing on the foundations of grounded theory literature.