| Abstract: | The topic of future care provision for adults with intellectual disability living in the family home is becoming of increasing interest to researchers since epidemiological evidence indicates that this group of people will make increasing demands for residential provision in the future. Deriving information from a previously reported study on the structure and characteristics of the informal support networks, this paper describes the future residential and financial provision planned for a group of people with intellectual disability over the age of 40 years living with relatives in the family home and investigates the factors which influence carers' decisions to plan for the future. A semi-structured interview enabled both quantitative and qualitative data to be collected. Results indicated that plans for the future residential care were minimal. Only 28% of carers had made any concrete plans for future residential care of their relative. In the majority of cases, carers were committed to maintaining long-term home care for their relative with intellectual disability for as long as possible. Attention is drawn to the significant number of elderly parental carers (82% of this sample) who have not made concrete future residential arrangements. Carers were more likely to establish financial plans than residential plans for their family member. No clear differences were found between carers to indicate factors influencing whether they had made preparations for the future. Explanations for the reluctance of carers to plan for the future were, therefore, explored. The overall conclusion to be drawn from the research is that ‘crisis’ resettlement due to ill health or death of the main carer is highly likely. The potential role of service-providers is briefly discussed. |
