6533b831fe1ef96bd1299136

RESEARCH PRODUCT

AGING IN PLACE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY: CARE TRANSITIONS AMONG OLDER TWO-GENERATION FAMILIES

subject

description

Little is known of transitions in care and housing of old two-generation families that include aging (≥40) adults with intellectual disability (ID) and their older (≥65) parents. This study employed the “housing pathways” theory in order to explore the experiences of these families of such transitions. All potential old two-generation families from two local authorities in Taiwan were recruited; 237 families completed our survey and 61 our in-depth interviews between May 2015 and July 2016. Different models and types of transitions in care and housing of these families were identified and found to be connected with changes in their care responsibilities and living arrangements. Old parents are concerned with transferring their care responsibility to others, often to their other children. The lifecycles and social/financial contexts of older parents and aging adults with ID, and those of the siblings of adults with ID, are linked together and need to be considered in the process of making moving decisions. Concerning the transitions in care and housing, kin relations, living geography and ethnic culture seem to be more important factors than social/health care needs/use of older parents and aging adults with ID. Aging in place was more popular than moving in old age among these families; hiring a migrant care worker strengthened families’ choice of ageing in the old place. Care transitions, aging with disability and kin relations are linked together for these families and should be taken into account and addressed by aging, housing and disability policies.