ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses issues at later stages of the life span for aging parents of adult children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Families and professionals are provided with an understanding of how to successfully prepare for this point in the life span as they encounter the physical, social, and psychological challenges that may arise. The chapter discusses the importance of sibling caregivers in this caregiving scenario. The concept of future planning is described along with a resource that is utilized to implement this critically important process. The chapter provides guiding principles for professionals who support individuals with IDD and their aging caregivers with respect to implementing future planning. Future Planning provide information to siblings related to future planning. For parents with considerable and lifelong caregiving responsibilities, it may seem that facing one's mortality and the consequences that it brings is almost too much to even contemplate.
