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Facilitating transition: elements of successful case management practice for older parents of adults with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- BIGBY Christine, OZANNE Elizabeth, GORDON Meg
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 37(3/4), 2002, pp.24-43.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The increased life expectancy of people with intellectual disability raises the dual issues of supporting aging parental carers to continue in their role and ensuring a smooth transition for middle-aged adults with intellectual disability to non-parental care. However, few services are specifically designed to respond to these issues and older carers are not generally dissagregated from other groups. This paper reports on an evaluation that examined the characteristics of these families, the outcomes for carers and adults, and the strategies adopted to achieve these. The elements of successful case management practice with older carers demonstrated in the programs were proactivity and prevention with a dual emphasis on maintenance and change for both the carer and their adult child with intellectual disability. Demands on carers were reduced by the introduction of formal services such as “recreation as respite” whilst the environmental demands for adults were increased, thus effecting change and providing vital ingredients for preparation for the future.