Background: Demand for formal social services support for adults with intellectual disabilities is increasing internationally. Initiatives which empower individuals with intellectual disabilities to improve their health, develop living skills or manage chronic illnesses may promote independence and reduce unnecessary dependency on social services. Methods: A "preventative framework" to managing demand comprising several domains was developed from existing literature to guide the search strategy. Results: Fourteen papers related to three domains in the predetermined preventative framework were selected for inclusion in the review, including twelve economic studies. Outcomes included measurement of care needs, and cost-comparison between social care models or cost-effectiveness of interventions. Due to the heterogeneity, the present authors were not able to quantitatively synthesize findings. Conclusions: The present authors conclude that evidence linking initiatives across sectors to demand for adult social care is lacking. The present authors identify several gaps in the literature and make recommendations for future research and data recording in practice.