The experience of siblingship, from the perspective of adults with borderline intellectual functioning, with non-disabled siblings, in the context of their ageing processes

This study concerns a unique population from the field of intellectual disabilities – people with borderline intellectual functioning (BIF). A commonly accepted definition for this group refers to people whose intelligence test scores range between 71-84, where there is a close connection between this population's characteristics and those of persons with mild intellectual and developmental disability (IDD; IQ scores slightly lower than the 70-75 threshold). As far as this concerns persons with IDD, researchers in this field define them as "aging" once they reach 50 and there is reference to the fact that over the years the gap between them and the general population narrows in terms of age and life expectancy. Nonetheless, when reviewing the theoretical knowledge on elderly people with BIF, it is apparent that there is lack of research concerning this population group, in particular regarding their unique characteristics and struggles.

In this context, the study will focus on the perceptions of aging persons with BIF with reference to aging and old age and their relationships during this period with their siblings who do not have disabilities. The literature shows that sibling relationships when one of the siblings has IDD is very similar to typical siblingship, though it may include unique interactions that affect the role and responsibility of each of the siblings in the relationship and the way in which it will shape in their old age. In many of the cases the sibling without IDD becomes the main caregiver of the sibling with BIF and provides practical and emotional support in a variety of domains. Concurrently it should be emphasized that to date the majority of the research concerning sibling relationships when one of the siblings has IDD, has primarily dealt with its effect on the sibling with normal mental development while the experiences of the siblings with disabilities have been marginalized in this field of research.

In light of the above, the goal of this study is to highlight and arouse professional discourse on sibling relationships when one of the siblings has BIF, at the beginning of a period with unique characteristics in the life sequence, namely old age, from the perspective of the person with BIF. The research population comprises 20 men and women with BIF, ages 40-60, Currently living in an out of the home residential framework. The study was conducted by means of semi-structured tailored interviews, which were later analyzed by means of a qualitative phenomenological method.

The analysis of the findings revealed three central themes: 1. Old age: perceptions of the participants about old age and their fears concerning the aging period. The interviewees presented the aging and old age process as a "decline" in different areas of life and described the aging period in a negative light. 2. Informal support systems at the present: both from the practical and emotional perspectives. The participants described their parents as a central focus of practical and emotional support in their lives today. 3. Siblingship during aging and old age: In their statements about the future, the interviewees presented their siblings with normal mental development as their main source of support in old age, both from the practical and emotional perspectives. Nonetheless, in their statements they also talked about the complexity of the relationship with their siblings, in light of their desire to continue to be autonomous people and independent in their lives.

The discussion on the three themes that emerged in this study raised the strong need to relate to the tangential points between the fields of knowledge in the disability learning world and the gerontology world in order to comprehensively understand the experiences and the needs of people at the intersectionality of old age and BIF and provide them with the appropriate responses. Furthermore, a unique understanding was reached about the informal support systems of this population in the present and the type of relations persons with BIF desire for themselves in the future, with siblings without disabilities. This was in light of the guiding principles that they presented in the interviews such as self-determination and free choice. Finally, emphasis is placed on the essential operative steps the Service providers, policy makers and researchers in this field need to take to aid people with BIF in improving their quality of life and shape them in the manner they themselves deem suitable.