Caring for down syndrome or children with defects after you have passed away?

Question

I am just curious. I read on these DS topic and a lot of answerers are saying that they will still give birth and love the baby even if the baby has DS or other birth defect. In your country, if you passed away before the DS child, what is going to happen to him/ her if your relatives, friends or other children do not want to take care of them? Are there institutions or homes available that will take them in and take care of them? How much will that cost? Will your country play a part in taking care of them too?

I will abort a DS or birth defect baby but I admire those who is willing to accept this situation and I do not expect answers or preaching about that God has given you this baby or this is murder, you should not abort.

My question is the after care of these children after their parents have passed away. Just want to broaden my knowledge.

A perfect normal child will grow up being able to earn money and maybe get married and take care of himself. I myself have a cousin who has DS and I do not know what will happen to him when his father pass away. I know it's difficult for him to get married and earn money just to support himself and he also has difficulties expressing himself.

Answer 1

Hi...this question ran through my mind all the time when I had my son....and it still does to a point. I am not sure of all the programs that are out there for adults with DS ( since my son is only three now and we are not sure of how delayed he will be once he is older) but the programs I do know of and are available to him are group homes where he could live with 7 other people in a home setting and still hold down a job and be semi-independent. this is usually costly, but the state picks up a portion if not all of the bill. (I helped out in a group home years ago, way before my son was born. they lived next door to me). then there is social security which will supplement their income if they only work part-time, if they are delayed a lot and can not work it supplements all of the income because DS is considered a disability. some people with DS are not as delayed as most would think, so they are able to live on their own and may have a coach or case worker stop in to see them frequently to make sure they are doing all right...it really all depends on the needs of the individual.
for my family....my oldest son who is 17 yrs old told me not long ago that we would never have to worry about Nick if we passed away....he said he would always be there for his little brother! will he be in a position somewhere down the road to do so...I don't know, nor does he...but I know if he can take Nick in he will, if not he will make sure Nick has what he needs to make the best life he can. I asked my oldest why he would take on such a huge responsibility...the answer I received made my heart melt....."because that is what families do....they take care of each other and he is my brother and I love him".

Answer 2

I'm not a parent of a DS child; and honestly hope I never am one. However ... let me ask you this question, and if you answer it - you should find the answer to your question.

If you have a healthy, "normal" baby - I know you will give birth and love that child with all your heart. But what will you do if you pass away before that child becomes an adult? What if your family is unable to care for a healthy child? God forbid, what if your family is unwilling to care for your child?

Regardless of the health or 'defect' status of a child, all parents want what is best for him/her. Many parents plan ahead in the event something happens and they are no longer able to care for their children. Most "healthy" children don't end up in orphanages or children's homes, but some do. Most "healthy" children who are left without parents will be taken in and cared for and loved by family members; those who are not - are placed either in children's homes or foster homes.

Care of a child with DS or any other birth defect is no different. If the parents do not make arrangements with friends/family members, or if friends/family members refuse to care for a disabled child - that child will likely be placed in foster care, with foster parents who are equipped and trained to handle whatever disability the child has.

Answer 3

If you don't have arangements made then they go to the state or whatever. Just like a "normal baby"

Hopefully the parents in this situation have taken the arrangements in to account. All parents should have a will stating what will happen to their child if the unthinkable should happen

Answer 4

I am a community visitor who visits homes for these people in Australia and the care is very good with as near to homelike as you can get.~~

Answer 5

we throw them into the river Styx... i mean mothers who do abortions. oh well nobody's perfect!