Who Supports Adults With Disabilities When Caregivers Age

Most families don’t worry about long-term care until someone gets older, but what if your loved one needs support for life and ends up outliving mom and dad? That’s the reality many families face with autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental disabilities, and it can turn into a sudden crisis for siblings who never expected to be the “next caregiver” without guidance.

We sit down with Samantha Harrison, president and lead disability support strategist at Momentum Family Strategies, to talk through what those first phone calls really sound like: parents declining, siblings overwhelmed, and huge questions about housing, safety, staffing, and money. Samantha shares how her work in Kentucky’s Medicaid waiver programs shaped Momentum’s focus on helping families navigate services, build sustainable care teams, and make a plan that works when parents can’t continue.

We also break down practical options like the Supports for Community Living waiver and the Michelle P waiver, including a critical myth that stops families from seeking help: the idea that “residential services” automatically means a group home. If you’re trying to understand home and community based services, future planning dollars, special needs trusts, and how to support an adult with developmental disabilities while keeping your own life intact, this conversation is a strong place to start.

Subscribe for more local stories, share this with a family that needs it, and leave a review so more Kentucky neighbors can find real support. What part of “life after mom and dad” planning feels most confusing right now? www.momentumfamilystrategies.com