Elderly mothers caring at home for offspring with mental retardation: a model of permanency planning

A theoretical model of permanency planning based on the double ABCX model of family stress and adaptation (McCubbin & Patterson, 1982) was tested using structural equation modeling. We interviewed 235 mothers, ages 58 to 96, who cared for adult offspring with mental retardation at home. Four variables were confirmed to directly influence their stage of planning: use of services for offspring, non-use of avoidance coping, the self-perception of being adversely affected by age-related changes, and help from offspring without mental retardation. Variables found to affect planning indirectly were perceived need for services, mothers' subjective burden, extent of caregiving tasks, offsprings' disability, and mothers' disability.