Social services utilization by adults with intellectual disabilities and their families.

In this study, we used Andersen's Behavioral Model with the family as a unit of analysis to examine the patterns of awareness and utilization of social services by families with at least one adult with intellectual disabilities. Face-to-face interview questionnaires were conducted with primary family caregivers in Hsinchu City, Taiwan in 2004. Data were collected on adults' and caregivers' predisposing, enabling, and need variables as well as awareness and utilization of formal social services. A total of 792 interviews were completed, making a response rate of 94.2%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify potential predictors of social service awareness and utilization. We found awareness and utilization to be mostly associated with predisposing and enabling variables including caregiver's socioeconomic status, family connection with social networks, and family participation in related groups or associations. Younger caregivers were more likely to access formal assistance, while adults whose families were more connected into social networks were more likely to be aware of in-kind and voucher services, e.g., in-home services including respite and home care, and vocational services such as sheltered workshops, and bus voucher services.

Older and younger family caregivers of adults with intellectual disability: factors associated with future plans.

A structured interview survey was conducted in a major city in Taiwan to explore and compare older and younger family primary caregivers' well being and their future caregiving plans for these adults with intellectual disability. The sample size was 315 caregivers who were 55 years or older and who cared for adults with intellectual disability and 472 similar caregivers who were under 55 years of age. The results indicated that the older caregivers compared with younger ones reported a lower quality of life, less family support, a more negative perception of having a family member with intellectual disability, and greater worries about the future care arrangements of the adult with intellectual disability. Statistical analysis showed that predisposing, enabling, and need factors influenced the caregivers' future caregiving options.