2024 Volume 44 Pages 1072-1082
Objective: This study conducts a comprehensive review of the living conditions and experiences of older parents of people with disabilities in Japan to better understand their lives.
Methods: Following Arksey & O’Malley (2005), this study conducted a scoping review based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines using the following keywords: children or persons with disabilities, family, parents, mothers, fathers, and life. Literature on the living conditions of parents of persons with disabilities, published starting in 2000, was selected using the Ichushi Web and CiNii Research.
Results: A total of 21 articles were included in the review. The results showed that older parents of persons with disabilities continue to take on a caring role for their children, even if their children live in different places, such as institutions, impacting their lives and health. Parents also had psychological difficulties associated with the transition of their children’s care and living arrangements. In addition, these parents experienced anxiety about their children’s future, which was compounded by their own experiences of aging and overlapping health problems and family issues.
Conclusion: The results suggest the need for increased support for older parents of persons with disabilities to improve their lives and health.
