Expressive Arts Intervention for Older Carers of Adult Family Members with Intellectual Disabilities.

This article examines the use of expressive arts-based interventions to support older Chinese carers of adult family members with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), focusing on their emotional expression, existential reflections, and concerns about future care arrangements. Conducted with forty-nine predominantly female participants aged mostly between 61 and 70, the study found that engaging in various art modalities facilitated breakthroughs in self-expression, helped normalize discussions about life and death, and fostered mutual support within culturally sensitive group settings. Despite these therapeutic benefits, carers faced significant challenges, including cultural taboos around death, reluctance of siblings to assume caregiving roles, and a lack of adequate residential services, leading many to prioritize maintaining their own health to extend caregiving capacity. The findings highlight the need for expanded community-based support and residential care options tailored to the complex needs of ageing carers and their family members with IDDs.