Integrated Care

This chapter explores the principles and applications of integrated care in the field of intellectual and developmental disorders. It outlines how a multidimensional and person-centered model can ensure continuity of care across different life stages and service settings. Integrated care is presented as a collaborative process involving medical, psychological, educational, and social professionals working together with individuals and their families. The authors emphasize the importance of adaptive functioning, quality of life, and inclusion as guiding criteria for effective intervention planning. By linking health and social care, integrated care promotes a holistic understanding of needs, reduces fragmentation of services, and fosters empowerment and autonomy. The chapter concludes by highlighting the relevance of interdisciplinary assessment and coordinated support networks in achieving sustainable, individualized, and ethically grounded care pathways.