Change over 12 years in residential provision for adult persons with intellectual disabilities in Ireland

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to document the impact of major policy changes and reductions in government funding on residential provision for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) in Ireland. Design/methodology/approach Ireland is unique in having a national database of people in receipt of services from specialist ID providers. Information on persons in residential settings from 2005 to 2016 was examined in terms of changes in the types of provision over time and broken down by age groups. Findings From 2011 onwards, cuts in government funding coincided with a continuing reduction in the overall provision of residential accommodation for adults with ID. There was a parallel increase in the number of people living with family carers, especially persons aged 55 years and over. The greatest reduction was in residential centres which was in line with recent policy but this was not matched by an increase in alternative options, with fewer people aged 20-34 living in residential accommodation of any kind. Compared to Great Britain, Ireland has proportionately more residential places with fewer people living independently. Social implications More Irish families have to continue caring for their adult relatives into their old age. Likewise, those resident in group homes and living independently are growing older which means there is an increased likelihood they will require additional support. Originality/value This national data set is a valuable tool for monitoring changes in service provision over time and for determining the impact of government policy and funding decisions.

Family carers of people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland: Changes over 10 years

“…First, the number of persons with intellectual disability registered on the database as receiving or requiring services has risen and particularly so for those living with family carers. Indeed, over this 10-year period, the numbers living away from families in some form of residential provision had fallen (McConkey and Craig, 2017). It is debatable whether the increase of people living with family carers represents a real increase in the numbers of persons with intellectual disabilities, although with a rising general population some increase is likely.…”

Irish persons with intellectual disability moving from family care to residential accommodation in a period of austerity

“…The proportion of persons moving to residential care from families was only around one‐third of those for whom a need to move within the next 5 years had been recorded in 2009. For all these needs to be met, an additional 1,400 places would be required which in times of financial constraint did not happen and has not happened since (McConkey & Craig, ). Instead, the need had risen by 2014 to an estimated 2,350 places.…”

Changes in the Provision of Day Services in Ireland to Adult Persons With Intellectual Disability

“…Thus, Ireland has not experienced the contraction of day service places that has occurred in the neighboring island of Great Britain in recent years (Hatton, ; Pitt, ). This suggests an ongoing commitment to the provision of day supports, as the proportion living with family carers had risen to 50% in 2014 (McConkey and Craig, ).…”