Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

November 18, 2020

Staying Connected during COVID-19: Family Engagement with Adults with Developmental Disabilities in Supported Accommodation

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Most families caring for adults with developmental disability adopted remote communication technologies to engage with their relatives. An online anonymous survey of 108 family caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities conducted during a “lockdown” (April-May 2020) was compared to responses from the month prior to lockdown. Face-to-face contact decreased from 91% to 32% and video call use increased from 28% to 64% (both p<0.01). While 79% of participants who used video calls rated it as helpful, they also reported that video interactions were limited in providing multifaceted social support.

Araten-Bergman and Shpigelman. (Nov 9, 2020). Staying Connected during COVID-19: Family Engagement with Adults with Developmental Disabilities in Supported Accommodation. Research in Developmental Disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103812