The population aging on the Autism Spectrum (AS) faces disproportionate physical and mental health comorbidities. This research describes self-care practices, including physical activity (PA), nutrition, and spirituality, and the impact of these practices on the health and well-being of older adults on the AS. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews (N = 30) with older adults (age 50+ years) on the AS on the following topics: health, employment, relationships, and services/supports. Data were analyzed using Dedoose software and a constant comparative method. Participants described self-reported health benefits of their PA. Participants who engaged with organizations reported receiving instrumental support and fulfillment. Several themes emerged regarding socialization and routines in self-care in older adults on the AS, which may inform interventions.
Keywords: Aging on the autism spectrum; Nutrition and autism spectrum; Physical activity and autism spectrum; Self-care and autism spectrum; Spirituality and autism spectrum.
© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.