Preparation for Future Care Needs by Parents Providing Care for their Adult Offspring with Disabilities

Abstract

Older adults who provide care for an adult child with a disability have rarely been considered when investigating propensity to plan for future care. Families in these circumstances are at risk of experiencing a crisis as these caregiving parents experience personal health challenges. This study investigated influences on the plans made by adults caring for adult offspring with a disability for their own as well their offspring's future care. Results indicated that parents who cared for an adult child with a disability were more likely to plan for their offspring's than their own care and the more planning they did for their adult child, the more they were likely to do for themselves. Implications are discussed.