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Family carers of people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland: changes over 10 years
- Authors:
- KELLY Caraíosa, McCONKEY Roy, CRAIG Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 25(2), 2021, pp.183-191.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Data were obtained on nearly 20,000 Irish children and adults living in various family care arrangements in 2007, 2012, and 2017. Over 10 years, the percentage increase in adult persons living with family carers was three times higher than the rise in the general population, with people aged 50 years and over having the highest proportional increase. Also a greater number of persons aged 40–49 group continued to live with both parents in 2017 (47%) compared to 2007 (33%). However, there was marked variation across the nine Community Health Organization areas in the proportions of adults living with family carers (from 49% to 62%). In the coming decades, increased provision will be required in both the quantum and type of supports provided to families so as to sustain their caring role but ensuring equity of provision nationally will be a major challenge. (Edited publisher abstract)
Supporting family carers of children and adults with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- KELLY Caraíosa, CRAIG Sarah, McCONKEY Roy
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work, 20(5), 2020, pp.639-656.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Summary: The extra strains experienced by families who care for a relative with intellectual disabilities are well documented. The provision of overnight (respite) breaks or supports in the home are common ways of supporting family carers. Often demand exceeds supply. Using data from a national register in Ireland, child and adults who received overnight breaks and in-home support were identified along with the characteristics that distinguished them from families that did not have these services. Moreover, changes in provision over a 10-year period were monitored and variations in provision across the country were ascertained. Findings: Overnight breaks were the dominant form of family support in Ireland. However, they were available to fewer persons in 2017 compared to 2007, whereas the provision of home supports remained constant. Persons with severe and profound disabilities were those most likely to receive home supports or overnight breaks as were persons aged 30 years and over. There were persistent marked differences across the country in the provision of home supports, although the variation in the usage of overnight breaks had contracted somewhat in 2017. Applications: Additional investment is needed to provide supports for families, given the increasing numbers of persons with intellectual disabilities living at home. A wider range of support options would provide greater choice and arguably improve the cost-effectiveness of current resources. Frontline professionals, such as social workers, need to be to the fore in persuading service commissioners of these needs based on empirical data as well as their personal experiences. (Edited publisher abstract)
Making numbers count: national datasets on intellectual disability
- Authors:
- McCONKEY Roy, CRAIG Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 20(1), 2015, pp.24-28.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Commentary on the paper "Adults with learning disabilities known to local authorities in Scotland: a national dataset" by Claire Stuart, et al. Drawing on experiences with the National Intellectual Disability Database in Ireland, the authors identify the key elements to be addressed such as the uses to which information from the database will be put; the definition of intellectual disability for inclusion of individuals; defining the information to be gathered; the systems for gathering information; checking and auditing the information that is collected, and the types of reports emerging from the analyses. A national database of persons with an intellectual disability is at least desirable, if not essential, to the delivery of equitable and effective service supports. The advent of computerised data management tools makes this a realistic option in most European countries although debates continue around the protection of personal data and the costs involved in establishing and maintaining dedicated databases. (Edited publisher abstract)