Disability caregivers and Church doulia, what Dietrich Bonhoeffer might say part 2: Suggestions for practice

Abstract

This is part 2 of a two-part article. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities either live at home with family or in facilities staffed by professionals. Family caregivers are fatigued, stressed, and financially burdened from the time, energy, and expense involved in looking after a dependent loved one. Professional caregivers experience hardship from the fact that wages are low—and so turnover is high, recruitment is difficult, and vacancies are persistent. The author explains how both the state and church fail people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers, and identifies two ways in which the church should support them—indirectly through political action and directly through providing services such as respite care.