Views and experiences of people with intellectual disabilities and carers. (2) The family perspective

The aim of the present paper is to distil findings from research into the views and experiences of families of people with intellectual disabilities (IDs). It draws from the authors' report on the views and experiences of users and carers, the DoH Research Initiative on Learning Disability: Proposal for a Research Review on the Views and Experiences of Users and Carers, which was commissioned by the Department of Health, and was intended to inform some of the thinking behind Valuing People and the associated research programme. The present paper traces the development and scope of research on family carers in relation to the personal and psychological experience of care as well as in relation to receipt of services. Theoretical and methodological gaps in the literature are outlined. Social systems theory is proposed as a means of addressing the requirements of a future research agenda about family care.