Family support and intergenerational caregiving: report from the State of the Science in Aging with Developmental Disabilities Conference.
BACKGROUND
This article summarizes the proceedings of the Family Support and Intergenerational Caregiving work group that was part of the "State of the Science in Aging with Developmental Disabilities: Charting Lifespan Trajectories and Supportive Environments for Healthy Living" symposium.


OBJECTIVE
The aim was to provide a research and policy agenda that would result in a better social, health, and economic well being for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and family caregivers.


METHODS
Key issues addressed were (1) demographic challenges; (2) long-term outcomes, poverty and cultural minority status; (3) interdependent roles of family members; and (4) family support policies and practices.


RESULTS
The group identified the following major gaps in knowledge that need to be included in a future research agenda: data on the demography of families, including information on cultural minorities and families living in poverty; research on the interdependent roles of various family members in providing support to each other, including siblings, grandparents, and the person with disabilities; and development and assessment of models for providing supports to families and that bridge the aging and disability networks.


CONCLUSIONS
The outcomes of this recommended research agenda will result in progressive policies and culturally sensitive supports that will improve the health, social, and economic well-being of adults with I/DD and their families.
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Developmental Disabilities, Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60608-6904, USA. theller@uic.edu
Tamar
T
Heller
Alan
A
Factor
D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging; D017028:Caregivers; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005195:Family Relations; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008913:Minority Groups; D011203:Poverty; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors