Families are the principle care giver for most people with developmental disabilities. Often families share this care-giving role with a service provider such as a developmental service agency. The transitions that occur during the aging process may require changes in the care-giving support provided by various family members and these agencies. It is important that each family have a sense of which family members are available to share in the support and how this family support may change over time. These changes may be brought on by new needs of the person being supported, by the aging of care-giving family members and by changes in circumstances of the family.
Checklist on the Role of the Family
Who are principle care-giving family members now and how much support does each provide?
- Mother
- Father
- Sister
- Brother
- Aunt
- Uncle
- Cousin
- Other Relations
What circumstances might impact the ability of family members to continue to provide support?
- New job
- Moving away
- Health conditions
- Lack of respite
- Need for vacation
- Retirement
- Reduction in income
- Other
Sourced from “Transition Guide For Caregivers”, The Ontario Partnership on Aging and Developmental Disabilities http://www.opadd.on.ca