PARENTAL SUBSTITUTES - THE ROLE OF SIBLINGS IN THE LIVES OF OLDER-PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

This Australian study examined the roles that siblings played in the l ives of older people with intellectual disability and factors affectin g this. The sample comprised 62 people aged 55 years and older who had intellectual disability and had lived with their parents until mid-ad ulthood. An extensive case-finding strategy ensured that people unknow n to specialist services were included in the sample. In-depth intervi ews were conducted with a person with a close long term relationship w ith each subject, service providers and 51 of the subjects. Nearly hal f the sample had a sibling who acted as their primary carer after the death of parents. However, in most cases this was not a permanent arra ngement. In the longer term a majority of older people did have a sibl ing who took responsibility for their well-being and played strong adv ocacy, mediator and supervisory roles. Fulfillment of such roles was a ssociated with a lifelong close relationship between siblings.