Respite care services for families caring for a person with an intellectual disability: decision making, experience and models of respite

Background to Study: This study aimed to evaluate how family based models of respite care locate themselves within the current climate of respite care provision with a view to informing the C.S.O. involved (Home Share Clare) on the future provision of their family based respite service. The research compared this model to the more traditional model of community based residential respite care through both a literature review and primary research carried out with participants that use both models of respite care. In doing so the research aimed to understand how carers came to the decision to use respite services, their feelings surrounding this and their experiences of using two particular models of respite care