Parental Involvement in the Residential Care of Persons with Intellectual Disability: The Impact of Parents' and Residents' Characteristics and the Process of Relocation

Abstract

Background This study addresses three goals: (i) to describe the extent of parental involvement in residential care (post‐placement); (ii) to describe the extent of parental involvement in the relocation process (pre‐placement); and (iii) to examine the impact of residents' characteristics, parents' characteristics and pre‐placement parental involvement on post‐placement parental involvement.Methods Ninety‐seven parents of residents living in residential care facilities for people with intellectual disability completed the Parental Involvement in Residential Care Questionnaire that was constructed for this study.Results Post‐placement involvement was expressed by parents' high level of visiting to the residence, close direct contact with the resident and the staff, and low level of participation in decision making concerning their son/daughter and the operation of the residence. Most parents were not actively involved in the relocation process, did not participate in selecting the current residence and did not visit the residence prior to the move. However, the majority participated in a preparation program for parents whose son/daughter were candidates for out‐of‐home placement. Participants whose sons/daughters lived in the residence for fewer years or whose son's/daughter's level of intellectual disability was less severe reported a higher level of post‐placement involvement. These parents had fewer children at home and had participated in a longer preparation pre‐relocation program.