'It's designed for someone who is not me': A reflexive thematic analysis of the unmet healthcare support needs in UK autistic adults aged 65 years and over.

ABSTRACT: Autistic people are more likely to experience physical and mental health difficulties across the lifespan, leading to an increased risk of premature mortality likely due to health disparities. At present, little is known about the healthcare experiences of autistic older adults. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 autistic adults aged 65 years or over living in the United Kingdom. Reflexive thematic analysis produced these themes: (1) A lifetime of being misunderstood; (2) Autistic people falling between the gaps; (3) Processing autism diagnosis in later life; (4) Concerns about service pressures and scarce resources; (5) Lack of continuity of care, empathy and understanding; (6) Anxiety, alexithymia and sensory overload; and (7) Reduced social support and concerns for the fu

SUBMITTER: Mansour H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11894832 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature