An exploratory study on needs of parents of adults with a severe learning disability in a residential setting

Parents are the key figures in the lifelong rehabilitation of adult children with a learning disability, including those who have a severe learning disability (i.e., having an IQ level between 20-25 and 35-40) (Hong Kong Rehabilitation Programme Plan, 1999). To provide specialized care, parents have to cope with a great deal of parenting demands. The purpose of this study was to explore parental needs in caring for adult children with a severe learning disability in residential setting. Focus group research design was adopted. Twenty-five parents of adults with a severe learning disability from a hospital in Hong Kong were invited to participate in five focus group interviews. The data were analysed by content analysis. Inter-coder reliability was established with inter-coder agreement of 0.8. Six broad categories of parental needs were revealed. Findings of the study may assist nurses to plan appropriate care for both the parents and the residents.