UBC School of Nursing, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Gerontologist. 2017 Apr 1;57(2):341-347. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnv103.
To examine the dynamics of caring relations in older families that include an adult with Intellectual Disabilities (ID). To date, there has been very little research exploring the experiences of aging families of community-dwelling adults with ID.
An exploratory, qualitative study was conducted in British Columbia, Canada. Eight participants were recruited through purposive sampling. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted to explore the experience of aging concurrently with a community-dwelling relative with ID. Data were analyzed using a thematic approach.
Three main themes emerged: (a) Recognizing the Changes of Aging, (b) Strengthening Connections, and (c) Planning for the Future.
Aging concurrently with a community-dwelling relative with ID is a unique experience for older adults and challenges traditional views of familial caring relations. These relationships are characterized by evolving patterns of care and exchange. There is also a sense of urgency to securing future care arrangements for the adult relative with ID. Advanced care-planning is complicated by the adult with ID' understanding of death and dying. Family caregiving policies and practices that take into account the complexities of these relationships are needed.
研究包括成年智力障碍者（ID）在内的老年家庭中照顾关系的动态。迄今为止，很少有研究探索社区居住的 ID 成年人家属的老龄化体验。
在加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省进行了一项探索性的定性研究。通过目的性抽样招募了 8 名参与者。采用深入的半结构式访谈，探讨与社区居住的 ID 亲属同时老龄化的体验。使用主题分析方法对数据进行分析。
出现了三个主要主题：（a）认识到老龄化的变化，（b）加强联系，（c）规划未来。
与社区居住的 ID 亲属同时老龄化是老年人的独特体验，挑战了传统的家庭照顾关系观念。这些关系的特点是护理和交换模式的不断演变。为 ID 成年亲属确保未来的护理安排也有一种紧迫感。由于 ID 成人对死亡和临终的理解，高级护理计划变得复杂。需要制定考虑到这些关系复杂性的家庭护理政策和实践。
