Adults with cognitive disabilities residing in group homes face special challenges in establishing and maintaining friendships, and in coping when they are disrupted—for example, when a housemate moves to a different level of care, or a staff member quits or is dismissed. On the basis of a small-scale qualitative study, this article raises concerns about the frequency of such disruptions—their psychological and social effects in the lives of people with limited cognitive abilities and limited social support. It also highlights a number of difficulties for participants in telling their stories of loss and suggests steps that agencies, social workers, and family members can take to support significant relationships for people with cognitive disabilities, even when disruptions are unavoidable.
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