Psychoeducational support groups for aging parents: development and preliminary outcomes

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Gerontology
• Special Education

Background:

• Aging parents of adult offspring with developmental disabilities face unique challenges.
• Existing support programs may not fully address the needs of this specific demographic.
• Parental involvement and support are crucial for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a psychoeducational support group program for aging parents of adult offspring with developmental disabilities.
• To explore parents' self-reported objectives for program participation.
• To compare experiences of parents residing with their offspring versus those whose offspring live separately.

Main Methods:

• A psychoeducational support group program was designed with input from practitioners and parents.
• Program development involved a focus group methodology.
• Parental and group leader appraisals of program process and outcomes were collected.
• A comparative analysis was conducted between parents living with their offspring and those whose offspring lived away.

Main Results:

• The program's development process and parents' participation objectives were documented.
• Parents and group leaders provided appraisals on program process and outcomes.
• Preliminary data suggested potential differences in support group experiences based on co-residence with offspring.

Conclusions:

• Psychoeducational support groups can be tailored for aging parents of adults with developmental disabilities.
• Understanding parents' objectives and experiences is vital for program refinement.
• Further research is needed to explore the nuances of support group experiences based on living arrangements.