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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Older carers of adults with a learning disability confront the future
— issues and preferences in planning | | Author(s) | Laura Bowey, Alex McGlaughlin |
| Journal title | British Journal of Social Work, vol 37, no 1, January 2007 |
| Pages | pp 39-54 |
| Source | http://bjsw.oxfordjournals.org |
| Keywords | Cognitive impairment ; Informal care ; Needs [elderly] ; Housing [elderly] ; Consumer choice ; Attitude ; Planning [admin]. |
| Annotation | The "Valuing people" White Paper (Cm 5086; TSO, 2001) requires services to secure a plan for all service users and learning disabilities living with older carers, and promises them and their families more choice and control over how and where they live. This paper examines the views of older carers aged 70+ of 62 adults with a learning disability about planning for the future. 56 took part in interviews in their own homes and 6 completed a questionnaire. All carers were white and recruited from one local authority. Findings indicate that a significant proportion (34 or 55%) is either not ready or is unwilling to make future plans. Barriers to planning include: a perceived lack of need due to the existence of two carers; a lack of awareness of time scales involved in securing housing; difficulties in letting go; a lack of confidence in available housing options; and the existence of mutually supportive relationships. The findings show a need for a proactive approach to information and support provision to enable these families to work through a process of making plans for the future. This is essential to prevent the need for emergency placements in response to crisis and in turn to ensure that adults with learning disabilities have genuine choice and involvement in how and where they live. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-070508205 A |
| Classmark | E4: P6: IK: KE: WYC: DP: QA6 |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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