A feasibility RCT protocol of the MATILDA intervention to support older adults with intellectual disability to improve their health and social networks

TL;DR

This study tests a community-based intervention to improve health and social connections for older adults with intellectual disabilities.

Contribution

The MATILDA intervention is a novel, low-cost approach to reduce social isolation in older adults with intellectual disabilities.

Findings

The study will assess feasibility outcomes like recruitment and retention in a randomized controlled trial.

A process evaluation will identify challenges and solutions for implementing the MATILDA intervention in community groups.

Abstract

Older adults with an intellectual disability are at greater risk of increased social isolation, loneliness, and poorer quality of life compared to their non-disabled ageing peers. The MATILDA study aims to improve health and social networks by facilitating older adults with an intellectual disability to engage in their local mainstream community group.

The 30-month project is a 2-arm, single-blind, randomised feasibility RCT with 1:1 allocation, being conducted in Northern Ireland and London, England. We are aiming to recruit 64 older adults with an intellectual disability (aged 45 plus) who will be randomised to either the MATILDA intervention or an active control group alongside usual care. We will assess feasibility outcomes (i.e. recruitment, acceptability of intervention, retention, etc.). We will also conduct a process evaluation using the Normalisation Process Theory to identify any solutions and challenges in implementing the MATILDA intervention in local community groups.

This is a novel, naturalistic experiment, low-cost community intervention that supports older adults with intellectual disability to engage in local community groups. This study builds upon our earlier work in exploring how older adults with intellectual disability age, engage in local community activities, and what are the enablers and barriers to facilitators in joining local community groups.

ISRCTN, ISRCTN15294181. Registered 20th December 2022.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40814-026-01780-3.

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