| The scene is becoming more familiar in communities | | | | an age of blended families and non-traditional |
| across the country. An aging parent, usually the | | | | marriages, families can be the least desirable place for |
| mother, weeps bitterly as she is forced to surrender | | | | a person with special needs. Moreover, stability should |
| custodial care of an adult child with special needs. | | | | be the number one priority when making an important |
| After caring for a loved one for fifty years or more, | | | | decision such as determining place of residence. Family |
| separation can be excruciating. However, the mother is | | | | members are not always in a financial position to |
| now in her late eighties and experiencing health | | | | assume the role of a surrogate parent. Depending on |
| problems which preclude her from continuing as the | | | | the medical needs of the special needs individual, |
| primary care giver. Parents of special needs children | | | | relocating may not be a viable option for many families |
| realize this day is inevitable. Early on in the process a | | | | in this situation. |
| decision was made to keep the child in the home, no | | | | There are high functioning people with autism or |
| matter what the costs. Those costs involve the | | | | asperger's syndrome capable of living independently |
| aggregate total of emotional, financial, and time | | | | with a solid support system. Some parents are |
| investments required to provide a loving and stable | | | | purchasing a condo or apartment with the intent of |
| home environment. Life for the children in these | | | | making it the child's primary residence at some point in |
| situations is no cakewalk either. Their lives are often | | | | the future. The greatest advantage in utilizing this |
| characterized by isolation and uncertainty, not to | | | | strategy is the security of knowing your child will have |
| mention being misunderstood at every turn. The "child" | | | | a place to live when you're no longer around. The fact |
| in this situation is now approaching sixty and also | | | | that you can also leverage your tax position doesn't |
| realizes, on some level, change was bound to happen. | | | | hurt at all either. The vast majority of people with |
| Two lives intertwined by an unbreakable cord, must | | | | autism, however, will require some assistance from |
| now part according to life's epic design. | | | | family or a facility designed to provide direct care. |
| With the proliferation of Autism Spectrum Disorders | | | | Finances are a major consideration when discussing |
| rampant in society, millions of parents will face this | | | | nursing home or assisted living arrangements. This |
| scenario in the not so distant future. Although there are | | | | option usually means qualifying for medicaid since |
| differences from past generations, the family dynamic | | | | medicare does not cover long term care expenses. |
| hasn't changed. The fundamental question for parents | | | | Last, but certainly not least, there is the sticky age 65 |
| of special needs children is, "Who will care for my | | | | requirement involved with medicare. That having been |
| special needs child when I'm unable to or when I die?" | | | | said, we come full circle with the issue of growing older |
| In response to that question, the obvious answer would | | | | and caring for special needs adult children. After all is |
| be siblings or some other family member. But upon | | | | said and done, we love our children unconditionally and |
| closer examination, the obvious choice may not be in | | | | acknowledge the day of separation that is sure to |
| the best interest of the person with special needs. In | | | | come. |