SOCIAL-WORKERS PERCEPTIONS OF OLDER PARENTS CARING AT HOME FOR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL-DISABILITIES

Members of the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR) Socia l Work Division (N = 395) were surveyed to determine their perceptions of their role in assisting older parents in permanency planning. Prac titioners, administrators, and educators similarly perceived ease in c ounseling aging families, but also noted their need for additional res ources and specialized training. Written comments revealed (a) that th e system must do more; (b) older parents are seen as different from ot her parents, with practitioners concerned about dependency in these pa rents' relationships with their sons and daughters and administrators attributing differences to past adverse system interactions; (c) paren ts old and young are alike in many ways; and (d) siblings should be in volved in family caregiving. Recommendations were made with regard to meeting the special needs of older families, reducing ''blaming'' atti tudes among social workers, and expanding best practice knowledge.