ADOPTION: it's never too late
2 March 2010
Although the average age at which adopted adults come back to seek background information is around 30, and later for former care adults, we have had enquiries from people in their 80's when they make their first approach to us.
Although the average age at which adopted adults come back to seek background information is around 30, and later for former care adults, we have had enquiries from people in their 80's when they make their first approach to us.
It's never too late!
Generally the older a case is the fewer records that remain, most often because fewer records were made originally. But we can sometimes tell people about the dates they entered particular homes, and give them some information about that home and perhaps even some photographs. Sometimes we may have information about their family of origin which may, for example, enable them to find out what happened to their mother. Although finding a living relative may be unlikely, it can be an enormous comfort to know what happened to them.
Michael was 81 when he first came back to us to see if we had any records about his family and time in our care. He had been admitted to our homes soon after his birth. We were able to tell Michael which homes he had lived in and the dates and reasons he had moved from one to another. We gave him some photographs and descriptions of the homes, and were able to put him in touch with some other people who had been residents in the same places, though a little later. A brief note on an index card, and an unusual family name, meant that we were able to identify a record of his mother's birth in 1906 and her death in the mid 30's.
Though Michael was unable to meet any family members he was pleased to know at last what had happened to his mother, and to have this information to pass on to his own children.
While this is a true account, dates, names, and any identifying information have been changed to preserve confidentiality.