Quality of life of adults with mental retardation/developmental disabilities who live with family

Abstract

In this paper, we review the literature related to the quality of life of adults with mental retardation/developmental disabilities (MR/DD) who live at home with their families. We examine the nature of the relationships between adults with MR/DD and their parents and siblings, the social worlds of adults with MR/DD, age-related functional and health issues that affect their quality of life, the range of services and supports provided to them, and familial efforts to plan for their continued well-being when parental care is no longer viable. Individual characteristics associated with these dimensions and/or more compromised quality of life profiles are identified. The paper concludes with recommendations for expanded research on the quality of life of adults with MR/DD who live in the parental home, a topic which has received markedly less attention than the quality of life of adults who live in publicly supported residential settings. MRDD Research Reviews 7:105-114, 2001.

Residential Transitions Among Adults With Intellectual Disability Across 20 Years

“…Public expenditures are catered toward out-of-home placements (Braddock, 2002), resulting in a dearth of evidence-based practices for in-home supports (Seltzer & Krauss, 2001). Future work should identify the supports and resources families used to retain their aging child in the family home.…”

Midlife and Aging Parents of Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Impacts of Lifelong Parenting

“…In addition, there is an increased likelihood that adult children with IDD will move away from the parental home during these stages of life (Seltzer & Krauss, 2001). Therefore, we examine family roles in midlife and the early years of old age, as well as how co-residence between the parents and adult child with IDD may be differentially associated with the physical and mental health of the parents.…”

Psychopathology: ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Other Conditions Present in Early Childhood

“…Children with ID and comorbid disorders show increased risk for lower academic functioning, adaptive functioning in the community, social functioning, and career opportunities (Borthwick-Duffy and Eyman 1990;Bromley and Blacher 1991;Eisenhower et al 2005;Pearson et al 2000;Seltzer and Krauss 2001). Parents of individuals with ID and comorbid disorders endorse elevated parenting stress Baker et al 2010;Blacher and McIntyre 2006;Herring et al 2006;McIntyre et al 2002) and an increased need for services (Douma et al 2006).…”

“…Since comorbid disorders tend to have negative long-term effects on various outcomes or children with ID and their families, they are an important target for early intervention Baker et al 2010;Blacher and McIntyre 2006;Eisenhower et al 2005;Herring et al 2006;McIntyre et al 2002;Neece 2014;Pearson et al 2000;Seltzer and Krauss 2001). Currently there are limited interventions specific to children with ID and comorbid disorders.…”