Monday, April 16, 2018

Majority of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities live with their families; only 13.5% in supervised residential settings

Data from "State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities" 2015 

This is something to consider when family voices are discounted or dismissed for lack of "authenticity" when they speak on behalf of their disabled family members.

Many advocacy organizations promote the idea that if we close all institutions and other congregate settings (only 13.5% of people with IDD live in such settings), we will save vast amounts of money that can then go toward everyone living in their own home or with their families. The vast majority of people with IDD already live in their own homes or with their families, and yet we still have a nationwide crisis in care and housing for people with disabilities. To solve the crisis, we need to take a bold look at our nation's priorities and find the funds to pay for the services needed, rather than cannibalizing programs (such as supervised residential settings) that are more costly because they serve people who are the most vulnerable and hardest to care for. 

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5.1 millionNumber of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

13.5% or 604,200 live in a supervised residential setting.

15.7% or 795,700 live alone or with a roommate.

71% or 3.6 million live with a Family Caregiver :
  • 24.0% of the 3.6 million live with caregivers over 60 years old
  • 35.0% of the 3.6 million live with caregivers 41-59 years old 
  • 41.0% of the 3.6 million live with family caregivers less than 41 years old. 

1 comment:

jane mariouw said...

this is terrifying!
the majority of severely disabled people who will die without care are living with family members age 40s and older.!!!
right now these disabled people are in danger of being neglected, abused, homeless or dead!!!
where is the outrage? where do we protest this? especially with our current govt?
god help us all