From the Knoxville [TN] News Sentinel:

Because of advances in medical care, many people with Down syndrome are now expected to outlive their parents.

Parents like Scott and Teresa Boyer  of Knoxville, TN, would like their 29-year-old son Matt to live with them as long as possible, but worry about what the future may hold. Another son says he wants to assume the role of caregiver as his parents age.

Family care is the primary source of support for most people with disabilities, and it’s estimated that 700,000 people with developmental disabilities around the country are living with one or more parents over the age of 65.

The unfortunate fact is the shortage of independent living arrangements for those with mental disabilities.

“We’re only taking emergencies at this point,” says John Craven, director of the Knox County Division of the Tennessee Division of Mental Retardation Services. He says the waiting list for supported apartments for the mentally disabled is “thousands” long, and state funding is in short supply, with more budget cuts expected this year.

(Knoxville News Sentinel photo)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 28th, 2009 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Down syndrome, housing, independent living, waiting list/waivers, young adults. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.