“DET ÄR JU ALDRIG LÄTT ATT BLI FÖRÄLDER” - Boendestödjares syn på stöd till föräldrar med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning

Sammanfattning: According to The Swedish act concerning Support and Service for Persons with Certain Functional Impairments (LSS), people with intellectual disability have certain rights. Even if the law does not specifically mention parents with intellectual disability or the right to start a family, it is clear that this law shall promote equality in living conditions and full participation in community life. The Swedish social board (Socialstyrelsen) describes daily life support as a help for people in their daily life. The support is often addressed to people with mental disability but in some Swedish municipalities people with an intellectual disability can receive this support as well. Daily supporters does not only help with practical needs but also with social and psychological needs. This qualitative study aims to capture the respondents perspectives and perceptions on support for parents with intellectual disabilities. Six respondents from three different municipalities in Skåne county has been interviewed. From these interviews four different themes has been selected. All of the respondents has in some way mentioned that alliance/trust/relationship is very important, and that it is necessary for their work to even be possible. They also talk about their work with practical support and their work with clients in supporting them in their self-esteem. Cooperation is according to the respondents necessary in their work with the clients but that cooperation with other professions does not work. When the respondents talk about their views on the target group they often mention that the parents can feel insufficient in their role as parents. They think it could be a result of how people with intellectual disability often is treated and viewed by society. The result of this study shows that daily life support, specifically for parents with intellectual disability, is inadequate. However, the result should be considered in relation to the extent of the study.