Financial well-being of US parents caring for co-resident children and adults with developmental disabilities: an age cohort analysis.
BACKGROUND
Understanding how financial well-being changes through the life course of caregiving parents of children with developmental disabilities is critically important.


METHODS
We analyse SIPP (U.S. Census Bureau) data to describe income poverty, asset poverty, income, net worth, and liquid assets of US parents (N = 753) of children with developmental disabilities.


RESULTS
Income and asset poverty was greatest for the youngest and oldest parents. Liquid assets were relatively flat across cohorts, while net worth declined sharply for elderly parents. Income was highest among parents aged 45-54.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings signal significant financial vulnerability among parents of children with developmental disabilities. Policy makers should consider targeted measures to improve the financial well-being of these parents, particularly the youngest and oldest.
Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454-9110, USA. slp@Brandeis.edu
Susan L
SL
Parish
Roderick A
RA
Rose
Jamie G
JG
Swaine
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000451:nursing*; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005062:European Union; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008016:Life Change Events; D010290:Parents; D011203:Poverty; D014481:United States