Older adults with cerebral palsy have come to experience the natural aging process in combination with other impairments which has imposed a number of physical, emotional and financial consequences on their lives. Adults with cerebral palsy face unique challenges. They have simultaneously deal with symptoms of cerebral palsy and with the problems of aging. The focus of cerebral palsy research seems to have always been on how kids live with the disorder. Health professionals and researchers neglected to study aging issues associated with cerebral palsy because it's a non-progressive disorder. However, even though cerebral palsy doesn't progress, aging does.

Physiologically, an adolescent who has cerebral palsy undergoes the same changes as their peers, however, psychologically; having a disability makes it difficult to develop a positive and healthy self image. Basically, the transition into adulthood is a challenge for most young adults and the degree of additional challenges in the course of this stage depends on the individual and his or her family, as well as the severity of impairment.

Even without the complication of another disability, the aging process itself has its impact. As people with cerebral palsy get older, they take longer to do things such as walking, dressing or eating. They slow down physically and can’t do as many things as they once did when they were young.

The number of adults with cerebral palsy is increasing but the amount of research about the subject is not. As the number of people reaching adulthood with cerebral palsy increases so will the necessity for medical attention. Increasingly, the problems of self care for adults with cerebral palsy match the problems of self care for elderly adults. Studies find elderly adults caring for themselves decrease in the participation of regular, periodic health care as their age increases. The problem for both the elderly and adults with cerebral palsy is that poor health surveillance results in a lack of early detection of major health issues. Life expectancy for a person with cerebral palsy is similar to a non-disabled person. Adults with cerebral palsy require the nearly the same care needed as a child, with the addition of medical care typically required as people age.

Thus, the inadequacies of health professionals in the field of aging and persons with cerebral palsy have had a direct impact on the psychosocial well being of those affected. The primary concerns of adults with cerebral palsy include independence and employment. The decline in energy and daily life skills is first noticed when their life is occupied with activities that are directly linked to these concerns.