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Evaluation toolkit for providers: an assessment tool and action plan for organisations to improve the quality of life for people with learning disabilities as they grow older
- Author:
- TOWERS Christine
- Publisher:
- Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 34
- Place of publication:
- London
This evaluation toolkit is to help provider organisations to improve the quality of support for people with learning disabilities as they grow older. It aims to enable providers to understand the values, knowledge and skills that need to be in place to support people as they grow older so that their lives are as happy, healthy and fulfilling as possible and draw up and deliver an action plan to improve the support provided to people as they grow older. It uses the 8 outcomes from the Association for Real Change 'Real Change Challenge on Older People'. It provides indicators for each of the eight outcome that providers can use to assess themselves against using a traffic light system (red, amber and green). The toolkit suggests resources to help achieve each outcome. There is also a template for developing an action plan to help organisations implement the necessary changes. (Edited publisher abstract)
Thinking ahead: improving support for people with learning disabilities and their families to plan for the future
- Author:
- TOWERS Christine
- Publisher:
- Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 28
- Place of publication:
- London
In the next 20 years, the number of people with learning disabilities aged 65+ is predicted to double. The greatest increase in life expectancy will be in people with mild learning disabilities who will have a comparable life expectancy with those in the general population of a similar socio-economic group. Therefore, families with people with learning disabilities will need to plan for their future care. The Thinking Ahead project aims to raise awareness about these concerns with policy-makers, local authority managers in social care and housing, carers’ organisations and more widely in the community. This report presents the findings of a survey about families' level of worry about the future, and how much help they have had in planning for a future when they will not around to support or care for a son or daughter with learning disabilities. The report also outlines findings from workshops and the development of a planning guide and its content. It recommends that policy and guidance on supporting people with learning disabilities and their families need to include statements on the importance of planning for the future, with requirements for local services to have a clear system to ensure future plans are developed. (Original abstract)
Thinking ahead: a planning guide for families
- Author:
- TOWERS Christine
- Publisher:
- Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 140
- Place of publication:
- London
This guide offers ideas for how different people can help parents, and contribute to thinking and planning for the future of their son or daughter with learning disabilities..People with learning disabilities need support to shape their future and to be central to any planning. People working in local authorities and voluntary organisations have a role to play in supporting families through discussions, providing information and supporting change. The nine sections of the guide look at different aspects of thinking about preparing for the future: making decisions; making ploans for the future; building friendships and support networks; talking about difficult subjects; making financial plans; housing and support; making a plan for emergencies; keeping an eye on things to help make a relative's future settled and secure; and making a plan for the future. The guide includes templates to help the user with these tasks. (Edited publisher abstract)
Circles of support and mutual caring
- Author:
- TOWERS Christine
- Publisher:
- Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 5p.
- Place of publication:
- London
A number of people with learning disabilities are providing regular and substantial care for their ageing relatives. In many cases, neither person would be able to remain living independently without this support. This is known as mutual caring. This booklet is aimed at workers and other people who know these families. The aim is to encourage people to think about the importance of support networks for these families and to develop Circles of Support to improve these. A Circle of Support is a group of family, friends and supportive workers who come together to give support and friendship to a person. The booklet describes: why Circles of Support are a good idea for older families where there is mutual caring; how Circles of Support can make a difference to older families where people are supporting each other; and 10 steps to setting up a Circle of Support. It also describes a case study of how a Circle of Support is helping a mother and daughter make choices and changes.
Recognising fathers: a national survey of fathers who have children with learning disabilities
- Author:
- TOWERS Christine
- Publisher:
- Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 69p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This reports on results of a national survey of fathers who have children with learning disabilities’. It presents the findings from 251 fathers who completed a questionnaire. It highlights that current policies and practices often fail to acknowledge or support fathers in their role as carers and make recommendations to address the situation. Contents include: designing and analysing the survey; survey participants; involvement of fathers; impact on relationships with family and friends; support from family and friends; contact with services; impact on health; impact on paid employment; support with paid employments; recommendations. Appendix includes good practice guidance for practitioners.
Talking together: facilitating peer support activities to help people with learning disabilities understand about growing older and living with dementia
- Authors:
- TOWERS Christine, GLOVER Cindy
- Publisher:
- Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 56
- Place of publication:
- London
This handbook describes how to run facilitated peer support groups where people use their understanding and experiences to help each other, aiming to help people with learning disabilities experience a greater sense of well-being as they grow older. It covers starting a group; planning, starting and ending each session; and provides ideas to help people feel engaged. The handbook also outlines 20 participative activities to engage people to think and talk about the changes that may occur as they get older. The activities have been tested in group sessions in two locations: a shared house for six people with learning disabilities where one of the housemates had developed dementia and a small day centre for older people with learning disabilities where one person had dementia. (Edited publisher abstract)
Recognising fathers: understanding the issues faced by fathers of children with a learning disability
- Authors:
- TOWERS Christine, SWIFT Paul
- Publisher:
- Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 91p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
The lack of support for fathers has been identified in a number of research studies. Support for parents is often targeted at mothers. Fathers may find it difficult to ask for help. Services do not always communicate with fathers who then become marginalised in discussions and decisions about their children. Fathers also need time off to attend visits to hospitals and other services. National family policy is beginning to realise the important contribution fathers make to family life. Strategies need to be developed to promote this contribution and further their involvement. The Recognising Fathers book highlights key findings from the research and makes recommendations to help employers, practitioners and service commissioners understand the issues faced by fathers and engage better with them.
Supporting learning disability partnership boards to implement the national carers strategy
- Authors:
- MAGRILL Dalia, TOWERS Christine, MORGAN Hazel
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department of Health
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 18p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This document aims to inform Learning Disability Partnerships about the National Carers Strategy. It includes information to ensure that local plans for all carers include carers of people with learning disabilities and carers with a learning disability. The document is in four parts, and covers: Joining up the National Carers Strategy and Valuing People Now; what the Government is already doing to support carers; Carers at the Heart of the 21st Century Families and Communities - the new National Carers Strategy and questions that a partnership board can use to check what is happening in their area to make the National Carers Strategy Happen.