DIFFERENCES IN-SERVICE NEEDS, TIME DEMANDS, AND CAREGIVING BURDEN AMONG PARENTS OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL-RETARDATION ACROSS THE LIFE-CYCLE

This study compared the service needs, time demands, and subjective bu rden of parent caregivers of children and adults with mental retardati on across the life cycle. It also examined the extent that family and child characteristics and service use contributed to parents' time dem ands and burden. This population-based study in the Netherlands includ ed 2,573 parents of children with mental retardation living at home. T here were significant differences by age of the child in demographic c haracteristics of the family, child's level of disability and adaptive functioning, service use, caregiving time demands, and subjective car egiving burden. The level of education of parents, the child's level o f disability, and service use were associated with parental time deman ds and caregiving burden.