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Futures planning, parental expectations and sibling concern for people who have a learning disability
- Authors:
- DAVYS Deborah, MITCHELL Duncan, HAIGH Carol
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 14(3), September 2010, pp.167-183.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
This study investigated adult siblings of people who have a learning disability. It examines demographics, future plans, parental expectations and concerns over future care. A questionnaire was e-mailed to 200 siblings on the Sibs database, of which 21 questionnaires were returned. A full discussion regarding sibling support was reported by 57% of respondents; 33% stated this discussion had not taken place, and 9% were unsure. Fifty seven percent of participants reported no clear future plan. Where a plan did exist, 33% of respondents suggested it was fully agreeable to both them and their parents. Fifty two percent of respondents reported no difference between their wishes regarding their future role and parental wishes. Analysis revealed three key themes: satisfaction with services, parental influence, sibling concern about the future, futures planning, the impact of the disabled person upon sibling lives, and siblings’ needs. The authors suggest that further qualitative research into issues for siblings of adults who have a learning disability is needed.
Parental caregivers' desires for lifetime assistance planning for future supports for their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Authors:
- HEWITT Amy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Family Social Work, 13(5), October 2010, pp.420-434.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article introduces a new model of future planning designed for parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) called Lifetime Assistance and presents findings from a study examining the future planning needs of parents of children with IDD and their willingness to pay for a service such as Lifetime Assistance. The Lifetime Assistance model combines planning for financial and personal well-being with the use of a paid, designated lifetime assistant called a Quality-of-Life Specialist. These specialists help families of people with IDD plan for the future as well as monitor the quality of life and well-being of an individual when their family members are no longer able to provide care and, as such, become substitute advocates. Using surveys informed by four focus groups, data were gathered from 244 parents, mainly mothers, in a Midwestern US state regarding the potential program. The family member was usually younger than 21, with moderate mental retardation or other developmental disabilities. Respondents generally reported low levels of satisfaction with the current system of support. Although almost all families had identified a person to support their family members when they were no longer able to do so, a great majority of parental caregivers identified the need for the Lifetime Assistance program and many were willing to pay for this service themselves. Implications of the findings for practice are discussed.
Planning and commissioning housing for people with learning disabilities: a toolkit for local authorities
- Authors:
- HOUSING OPTIONS, GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health. Valuing People Support Team
- Publisher:
- DH Care Networks. Housing Learning and Improvement Network
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 73p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This ‘toolkit’ is intended to assist local authorities and their partners to plan effectively for the housing requirements of local people with learning disabilities and deliver the objective of more people with moderate to severe learning disabilities living in their own homes. The toolkit is set out in two main parts: planning – the steps likely to be required to plan for a wider choice of housing options; and delivery – the steps and actions likely to be required to commission a choice of housing options in reality. The toolkit is designed so that each 'component' section can be used independently, or it can be used in its entirety as a sequential series of steps and actions. Each section contains: a ‘checklist’ type series of questions that a local authority can use to plan activity and action and to self-assess its current position and performance; and possible approaches and suggestions for making progress including a sample of examples of good practice from a range of local authorities across England. It also contains a list of useful resources.
Siblings of adults with developmental disabilities: psychosocial outcomes, relationships, and future planning
- Authors:
- HELLER Tamar, ARNOLD Catherine Keiling
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 7(1), March 2010, pp.16-25.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
As a result of longer lifespan and the aging of their parents, siblings play an increasing role in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In this article, the authors reviewed the literature on siblings of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, concentrating on three main questions: what are the psychosocial outcomes of having a sibling with an intellectual and developmental disabilities on the sibling without a disability?; what factors relate to the nature of the sibling relationship?; and what factors relate to future planning, including expected and future relationships when parents can no longer provide care? The authors examined 23 relevant published studies for the period 1970–2008 on adult siblings over 21 years of age that addressed the relationships, psychosocial outcomes, and involvement in future planning. In conclusion, the authors suggest that these studies present a mixed, but positive picture of the psychosocial outcomes of having a sibling with a disability. They also indicate that siblings tend to have long-lasting close relationships with their siblings with a disability and anticipate taking on greater supportive roles as both grow older.
Neighbourhoods with resilience to care: a viewpoint on developing the contributions of housing services for adults at risk of exclusion
- Authors:
- APPLETON Nigel, MOLYNEUX Peter
- Publisher:
- DH Care Networks. Housing Learning and Improvement Network
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 22p.
- Place of publication:
- London
To improve the lives of adults who are at risk of exclusion, it is imperative to implement appropriate housing and related services. Inappropriate housing can reduce the ability of people with poor health or a disability to lead independent lives and participate in the community. As such, the providers of housing and housing related support have had a key role to play in the achievement of Public Service Agreement (PSA) 16 targets. This paper seeks to show those seeking to make a difference for people in these groups, be they commissioners, providers, tenants or service users, how they can use different structures to deliver health and well-being outcomes. The paper describes how the successful delivery of PSA 16 is going to require strategic planning across regional, sub-regional and local planning structures and the joint commissioning and procurement of services. This means that the successful delivery of PSA 16 is going to depend on a number of strategies coming together: the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment; Strategic Housing Market Assessment which is the local authority’s assessment of how the local housing market is functioning and an estimate of the housing and housing related support needs of vulnerable groups in the local area; and the Local Strategic Partnership, Local Area Agreement and the link to that from the Supporting People Commissioning Body.