title: Caring for a child with learning disabilities over a prolonged period of time: an exploratory survey on the experiences and health of older parent carers living in Scotland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The negative health impacts of prolonged caregiving are widely reported. However, there is a paucity of evidence concerning the impacts of a lifetime of caring on older parents of offspring with learning disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  An exploratory postal survey including the Medical Outcome Study (Short Form) 36 version 2 (SF-36v2) was completed by 100 older parent carers. The reported survey is part of a larger mixed method study including in-depth interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of respondents (n = 91) reported caring for 50 h or more per week with multiple caregiving duties. While the SF-36v2 reported physical health of older parent carers to be similar to UK norms, their mental health was significantly reduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These important findings highlight the vulnerability of ageing parents of offspring with learning disabilities. This previously underreported situation warrants further investigation and urgent attention from health and social care agencies and professionals.
authors.affiliation: Brunel University, School of Health Sciences and Social Care, Uxbridge, UK.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cairns
authors.forename: Jayne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tolson
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Darbyshire
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D032721:Adult Children / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012606:Scotland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: caregiving; dependent son/daughter; health; learning disability; older parent carers