Older Adult Caregivers and Adult Children with Disabilities

Background and Purpose

Recent attention has been given to the importance of older adult caregivers of adult children with developmental disabilities. Estimates of the numbers of these homes vary. The needs of individuals in these homes have important implications for policy makers and service providers because if the older adult requires an out of home placement, the adult child with a disability requires a placement as well. Current programming does not allow, in most cases, for the parent and child to remain together even though it is hypothesized that in some cases, the older adult caregiver and the adult child with the disability may engage in reciprocal care giving. This study (1) examines how older adult care giving has changed from 1970 to 2004 in the U.S. and in selected states, (2) explores the types of disabilities that are most commonly cared for in older adults homes, (3) describes the types of supports used by older adult caregivers and 4) examines older adult health care strengths and needs and adult child characteristics.

Methods

Data from the U.S. Census of Population (1970 to 2000) and the American Community Survey (2001 to 2004) were used to examine the number of households caring for adult children in their homes. Both the numbers of children with disabilities and those without disabilities were examined. Multiple panels (1988, 1991 1992 1993, 1996, 2001, 2004) from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) provide information on state of residence, household characteristics, program participation, use of health care services, and income and health characteristics of household members. In order to control for state level effects on program participation, SIPP data were merged with state level poverty data. Descriptive statistics are used to describe changes in older adult care giving in selected states over time and in the U.S., while regression analyses were used to examine the relationship of adult child disability characteristic to older adult caregiving controlling for household and state level characteristics.

Results

The number of adult children, regardless of disability status, living in their parents' homes has risen steadily since 1970 in the United States. While all adult children are living in their older adult parents' homes, the percentage of adult children with disabilities in the United States has increased at a greater rate. Preliminary results from the SIPP suggest older adults are least likely to care for individuals with the most severe limitations despite the availability of supports.

Conclusions and Implications

Older adults and individuals with developmental disabilities may represent an important care giving resource in the community. The challenge for communities is to continue to support these arrangements for as long as possible. When these situations dissolve, two placements are often used. Communities are then challenged to develop placements that are suitable for both older adults and individuals with developmental disabilities in the least restrictive setting. Researchers are challenged to find what is working about these special situations and to support these special families.