Experiences of Performing Daily Activities in Middle-Aged and Older Autistic Adults: A Qualitative Study.

This study interviewed 15 older autistic adults (ages 50-73) about their daily life activities like cooking, cleaning, and managing finances. Each person had unique strengths and challenges, and had developed their own ways of managing tasks. Most difficulties came from mismatches between the person's needs and their environment - like sensory issues, social situations, or health problems. The researchers say we need to better adapt environments and change social attitudes to help older autistic adults live more comfortably and independently.

This qualitative study explored how middle-aged and older autistic adults (aged 50-73) experience instrumental activities of daily living. Fifteen Australian participants without intellectual disability were interviewed, with responses analyzed using the Occupational Performance Model Australia. The research revealed that both strengths and challenges in daily activities were highly individual, with participants developing personalized management strategies. Challenges primarily emerged from interactions between environmental factors (sensory, cognitive, social, cultural) and personal characteristics like health conditions and sensory sensitivities.

The study emphasizes the need for better person-environment fit and broader sociocultural attitude changes to support comfort and autonomy in later life for autistic adults.

Assessment should focus on person-environment interactions rather than deficits alone. Interventions should build on individuals' existing coping strategies and emphasize environmental modifications. Clinicians should consider sensory, cognitive, social and cultural environmental factors when supporting older autistic adults with daily living activities.

Small sample size of 15 participants limits generalizability. Single-country study from Australia may not reflect experiences globally. Qualitative design provides rich detail but cannot establish causal relationships or quantify prevalence of experiences.

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.