The future care plans of older adults with learning disabilities living at home with family carers

This article 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. Results indicated that plans for the future residential care were minimal. Only 28% of carers had made any concrete plans for the 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 for their family member. Explores for the reluctance of carers to plan for the future and briefly discusses the potential role of service-providers