Wednesday January 16, 2013
Easter Seals Siblings Study sheds light on the experiences of sibling caregivers as well as insight on the services and supports they need:
- 80% of survey respondents say they have a close relationship with their sibling with a disability and that this relationship enhances their life;
- Nearly 50% say their parents currently house and provide caregiving for their sibling with a disability while 14% say their sibling lives with them and another 23% say they are already the primary caregiver;
- 75% of primary caregivers say caring for their sibling is a full-time job, and 30% say they don’t receive support – emotional, physical or financial help – from other friends and family;
- Of respondents expecting to take on the role of primary caregiver in the future, 80% say they are comfortable taking on this role but they are much more likely to say they are emotionally prepared than financially prepared (60% vs. 33%).
Easter Seals will use these findings to raise awareness of and advocate for the life-long services and supports families and caregivers need – working to lessen disparities and bridge the gap for people living with developmental disabilities across the country.