Peer Carers With Intellectual Disabilities: Opportunities and Challenges Associated With Providing Care and Support to Others With Intellectual Disabilities

BACKGROUND: Individuals with intellectual disabilities are increasingly involved in providing care and support to other individuals with intellectual disabilities: promoting their participation within work and helping to address staff shortages. This study explored the opportunities associated with engaging these peer carers and the facilitators and barriers that impact upon these opportunities. METHOD: Interviews were conducted with seven peer carers and 15 professionals in the Netherlands and analysed using a general inductive approach. RESULTS: Opportunities for peer carers (fulfilment, social connection, self-confidence), professionals (reduced work pressure), and service users (increased activities, trusted faces) were identified. Five key themes related to facilitators and barriers (tailored support, clear agreements and communication, role definition, individual characteristics, supportive policies) were found to influence the extent to which these opportunities could be realised. CONCLUSIONS: Peer carers working within intellectual disability care offer valuable opportunities, but realising these opportunities requires support, clear role definition, and organisational embedding.