Who Will Care for My Autistic Child When I’m Gone? Residential Care with Mike Carr

For parents and caregivers of profoundly autistic adults, one of the hardest questions is often: Who will provide lifelong care when we can no longer do it ourselves?In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr explores what families should look for when evaluating residential care for adults with profound autism and complex support needs.Drawing from his experience as a parent to a profoundly autistic adult and his work with J13, Mike examines residential programs through a family-centered lens. He discusses staffing ratios, overnight supervision, behavioral support, medical readiness, seizure and pica protocols, communication devices, staff turnover, transparency, community participation and plans for aging in place.Mike also shares five residential programs that made his initial shortlist for further investigation and provides a practical checklist of questions families can ask when touring or evaluating residential services.The central message is that residential care should offer more than safety. Families should consider whether a program provides opportunities for meaningful relationships, communication, work, recreation, community involvement, dignity and a life worth living.In This Episode• Planning for lifelong residential care for profoundly autistic adults• What families should ask about staffing ratios and overnight coverage• Evaluating behavior support and restraint policies• Seizure, pica, and medication safety• Supporting AAC and communication devices• Measuring staff turnover and program transparency• Creating meaningful daily activities and community involvement• Questions to ask during residential program tours• Five programs Mike identified for further exploration• J13's vision for future residential care in AustinIf you're a parent, caregiver, sibling, family member or professional supporting someone with profound autism, this episode offers practical questions to consider as you plan for the future.About Autism LabsAutism Labs shares practical information and real-world conversations for families supporting autistic children and adults. Topics include profound autism, communication, behavior, caregiving, adult services, transition planning, residential care and lifelong support.Website: https://www.autismlabs.com/Subscribe to Autism Labs for more conversations designed to help families navigate autism across the lifespan.