Learning disabilities

This book reports on the first research study to reflect the experiences of carers of people with learning disabilities following the implementation of the 1995 Carers Act.

The majority of adults with a learning disability live with family carers, many of whom are ageing and have support needs of their own. Planning for the future thus becomes the key to preventing a crisis situation when family care is no longer viable because of death or ill health. Existing knowledge and practice are largely based upon the perspective of professionals and carers. This study explores the views, aspirations and concerns of adults with a learning disability, about living at home and planning for the future.

When people with learning disabilities have care duties thrust upon them they can become isolated and stressed. The author looks at how they can be better supported. [Journal abstract]

This 2-disc set include information developed as part of the Mutual Caring Project. The Mutual Caring Project was set up to help promote recognition of good practice and develop improved service provision for older families where the balance of the caring relationship between the long-term family carer (often a parent) and the person with learning disabilities (normally an adult son or daughter) has changed. This disc set highlights this neglected area and provides evidence of practical approaches that can be used in different settings.

This film focuses on Rose Fernandes who cares for her mother, who has dementia, and her daughter, who is autistic and has learning difficulties. She uses direct payments to pay for people to help with her daughter’s care, but for her mother she relies on agency staff. She finds this method tough as the agency staff only come at certain times, leaving her to care for her mum alone throughout the night. Meanwhile, her daughter Crystal receives much more flexible care, but direct payments leave her with a lot of paperwork to do. Note: This film is no longer available.

In this DVD people with learning disabilities and their family carers tell their story of healthy eating. Their stories show how some people and families have overcome barriers to healthy eating. As well as healthy eating, the DVD also covers enjoying cooking and eating, having choice and control about what you eat, where you eat and who you eat with. It shows that healthy eating works best when everyone works together.

BACKGROUND: Although the elevated occurrence of epilepsy in people with intellectual disabilities (ID) is well recognized, the nature of seizures and their association with psychopathology and carer strain are less clearly understood. The aims were to determine the prevalence and features of epilepsy in a community-based population of adults with ID, and to explore whether the presence of epilepsy was associated with greater psychopathology or carer strain.

Mencap finds no let up in stress for carers of people with learning disabilities as councils fail to assess their needs and make inadequate provision of short breaks. [Journal abstract]

Examined were the impact of exercise barriers and carer attitudes regarding exercise outcomes on the exercise participation of adults with Down syndrome (DS). The sample included 44 adults age 30 years and older with DS and mild to moderate intellectual disability and their carers (family members or staff). Measures included personal characteristics of the adults with DS (age, level of adaptive behavior, and health status), carer perceived outcomes of exercise for people with DS, socio-emotional barriers, and access barriers to exercising.

Physically aggressive behaviours pose major problems to carers supporting people with intellectual disability. This review considers the prevalence and nature of this form of challenging behaviour within this population and describes possible causal factors. Discusses the present status of both behavioural and pharmacological interventions for aggression and outlines the importance of devising reactive management plans for aggressive behaviours.