This focused review highlights important issues in the care of persons who are aging with a disability. It is part of the study guide on geriatric rehabilitation in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This article specifically focuses on significant medical and rehabilitation issues pertinent to persons with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, postpoliomyelitis syndrome, and selected other neurologic and neuromuscular diseases. In addition to normal physiologic aging, people with these conditions often experience secondary complications and accelerated impairments because of aging itself. These complications are described, and monitoring strategies and treatment are recommended.
Overall article objective: To summarize issues in the care of persons aging with a disability.