Developing services for people with learning disabilities which actively involve family members: a review of recent literature

There is growing recognition that people with learning disabilities are family members and their presence in the family holds great potential to influence the functioning of the family. While much talked of in the professional literature, active family involvement in care, with family members involved in decision making and priority setting as opposed to carrying out directions of professionals remains a major challenge to all members of the multidisciplinary team. Essential to developing services that facilitate family involvement in care is an understanding of the effects a person with learning disabilities may have on a family as a unit and on the range of abilities and needs of individual family members. This paper provides a review of recent literature on the possible impact of a person with learning disabilities on the family unit. It also highlights current professional statements about family involvement in care. In addition some implications for the development of services which seek to involve family members as true partners in care are identified.