Family Experiences of Personalised Accommodation and Support for People with Intellectual Disability

Previous studies suggest that family members of people with intellectual disabilities prefer them to move to supervised living arrangements such as group homes. In Ireland, personalised arrangements are emerging, but families have had little exposure to this option. In this qualitative study, we exp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of intellectual disabilities Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 476 - 489
Main Authors Iriarte, Edurne Garcia, McConkey, Roy, Vilda, Dovile
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England SAGE Publications 01.12.2021
Subjects
Attitudes
Daily Living Skills
Experience
Family Environment
Family Relationship
Foreign Countries
Group Homes
Intellectual Disability
Residential Institutions
Self Esteem
Social Integration
Ireland
community living
personalised accommodation
family
Ireland
intellectual disability
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Summary:Previous studies suggest that family members of people with intellectual disabilities prefer them to move to supervised living arrangements such as group homes. In Ireland, personalised arrangements are emerging, but families have had little exposure to this option. In this qualitative study, we explored the perspectives of family members following their relative's move to personalised support options, mostly from group homes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2011 with a family member of 17 people who had previously moved, with follow-up interviews held with 12 of them up to 18 months later. Thematic analysis on interview transcripts was conducted by three researchers. The family members spoke favourably of the new arrangements. A core theme of enabled independence emerged with subthemes of greater self-reliance in personal care, increased confidence, more social inclusion and gains for relatives. Reservations focussed on the need for more support hours, managing risk and loneliness.
ISSN:1744-6295
1744-6309
DOI:10.1177/1744629520905207