August 21 is National Senior Citizens Day. In a state like Florida, with a growing population of older residents, it is more important than ever to highlight the critical need to promote independent living and provide the supports that make it possible.
In its proposed 5-Year State Plan, submitted August 15 to the federal Administration for Community Living, the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC) has named Aging Families as one of its four priority areas. These priorities were shaped by input from Floridians with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their families and caregivers, and the organizations and state agencies that support them.
Two areas the Council will address this coming year involve helping aging families develop plans to meet their loved one’s IDD-related needs when they are no longer able to provide care themselves, and exploring how technology can help senior caregivers remain in their own homes longer with their adult child with IDD.
Currently, 75% of individuals with IDD live in the family home, and 29% of them live with a caregiver over age 60. Only 6% live in a supervised residential setting — an option that costs far more than supporting a person with IDD at home. As Floridians, recognizing the needs of both individuals with IDD and their aging caregivers will help both groups remain as independent, safe, and connected to our communities as possible.
Let’s celebrate our seniors who are family caregivers to loved ones with IDD.