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Quality of life: a survey of parents of children/adults with an intellectual disability who are availing of respite care
- Authors:
- CAPLES Maria, SWEENEY John
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 39(1), March 2011, pp.64-72.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Some two-thirds of the people registered on the Irish National Intellectual Disability Database live at home, with family members providing support. Use of respite care services by parents with a child/adult with an intellectual disability (ID) is growing in the context of social policy initiatives for greater social inclusion of people with disabilities. Parents often require assistance in this caring role, needing to be supported with reliable, flexible and responsive services. Parents often have to negotiate complex barriers to access support services such as respite, health or social care. This article draws on a recent Irish study that investigated the quality of life of 49 parents of people with an intellectual disability and who are using respite care. In general, results indicated that parents were experiencing good to excellent quality of life. However, demand exceeded supply, with many parents facing a lengthy wait gaining access to respite care. However, more research needs to be undertaken out to establish what services are deemed most valuable to parents.