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Access to healthcare services by people with intellectual disabilities: a rural-urban comparison
- Authors:
- NICHOLSON Laura, COOPER Sally-Ann
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 15(2), June 2011, pp.115-130.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Considering that access to healthcare services is difficult both for adults with intellectual disabilities and for people living in rural areas, it is likely that adults with intellectual disabilities in rural areas may be at an extra disadvantage. This study examined data from 39 rural and 633 urban participants from Scotland. Data on demographics, healthcare, and access to services were collected from face-to-face interviews and primary care notes. Analysis revealed that the rural sample to have significantly more contact with primary and secondary health care. However, contact with allied healthcare professionals was not significantly different, except that people in the rural sample were significantly more likely to have had recent contact with a dentist and an optician. The authors concluded that adults with intellectual disabilities in rural areas were not disadvantaged when compared to urban service users.
Opening doors
- Author:
- CHIMBA Innocent
- Journal article citation:
- Llais, 83, Spring 2007, pp.9-11.
- Publisher:
- Learning Disability Wales
The author reports on the progress of a new project which aims to extend the advocacy support services provided by Advocacy Action Wales (AAW) to adults with a learning disability from the black and ethnic minority communities in the Gwent region. The project is funded by the British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD).
Exploration of the dynamic barriers to adults with intellectual disabilities accessing mainstream mental health services
- Authors:
- McNALLY Paddy, McMURRAY Kimberly
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 9(6), 2015, pp.352-362.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the experiences of psychologists in considering the barriers to people with intellectual disabilities being able to access mainstream mental health services. Design/methodology/approach: The information relating to participant experiences was gathered by conducting two focus groups: one with psychologists working in the adult mental health service and the second with psychologists working in the learning disability service. A thematic analysis was used to determine the main themes from each of the focus groups. Findings: The overarching themes for the psychologists in the adult mental health service related to: service restrictions; confidence in their ability/skills; and resistance to change. The overarching themes for the psychologists in the learning disability service reflected: future thinking; protection; pessimism; and clarification around mental health and learning disability. Originality/value: The discussion includes consideration of the dynamic positions of the two services and recommendations for an integrated system of working.
How do adults with intellectual disabilities use Facebook?
- Authors:
- SHPIGELMAN Carmit-Noa, GILL Carol J.
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 29(10), 2014, pp.1601-1616.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Social networking sites have potential to support social relationships and self-determination of people with intellectual disabilities. An online research survey was conducted to reach adults with intellectual disabilities who use Facebook and to include their voices about their online experiences, challenges, and preferences. Mixed methods were used for data collection and analysis. Results from 58 respondents indicated that they use Facebook much as non-disabled users do to connect with family members and real-world friends. At the same time, the respondents reported challenges such as privacy setting and literacy demands. The findings and how to make social networking sites more accessible for users with intellectual disabilities are discussed. (Edited publisher abstract)
Followers or leaders? What is the role for social care practitioners in annual health checks for adults with learning disabilities?
- Authors:
- MANTHORPE Jill, MARTINEAU Steven
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 14(1), March 2010, pp.56-66.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
English government policy promotes health checks for adults with learning disabilities based on the need to address lack of access to healthcare services and poor health outcomes for this group of citizens. This paper highlights the findings of a scoping review of the literature carried out in 2009 to examine the implications of a national system of health checks for the work of practitioners in social care services. The review found little in the research literature relevant to social care practice and concluded that there is a need to consider the possible roles of social care staff in initiating health checks. The reviews also suggested the possible involvement of social care staff in decision making around issues of consent, social care practice in recording and implementing the recommendations of such checks. Finally, the review suggested that staff should consider their possible roles as escorts, chaperones and supporters with communications, and that the presence of regulatory scrutiny of their participation in this activity was required.
Inequalities in respite service provision: insights from a national, longitudinal study of people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- McCONKEY Roy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 23(1), January 2010, pp.85-94.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Using data from a national database in Ireland of around 16,000 people with learning disabilities living with family carers, the availability of overnight respite provision was monitored over an 8-year period along with the recorded needs for such services. Despite marked rises in the number of people receiving respite breaks resulting from increased government funding, there were marked inequalities in the availability of provision across the country. In recent years the inequalities decreased but still remained. The proportion of families requiring breaks also rose and a similar pattern of inequalities were found here too. This study highlighted some of the complexities in reducing inequalities in the provision of respite services and in identifying the need for them. It would be advantageous to develop more explicit criteria regarding the need for respite provision and to record the family's preferences for the form this provision might take. These adjustments would add to the value of any national database as a service planning tool.
Better access to primary healthcare for adults with learning disabilities: evaluation of a group programme to improve knowledge and skills
- Authors:
- WEBB Jenny, STANTON Melanie
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37(2), June 2009, pp.116-122.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The health of people with learning disabilities is poor when compared with the general population but this difference is not reflected in higher rates of access to primary healthcare. This paper reports on a study undertaken to run and evaluate a 12-week programme to enable people with learning disabilities to better access primary healthcare. The importance of this research lies in the successful outcomes achieved, and in the distinctive properties of the programme, which used practice-based groups, and focussed on the development of health skills as well as health knowledge.
Perspectives of constraining and enabling factors for health-promoting physical activity by adults with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- TEMPLE Viviene A., WALKLEY Jeff W.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 32(1), March 2007, pp.28-38.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Physical activity influences health in individuals and within populations. This study explored factors perceived as enabling or inhibiting participation in physical activity by adults with intellectual disability from a health promotion perspective. Six focus group interviews were conducted: adults with intellectual disability (1 group, n = 9), direct care workers (1 group, n = 5), group home supervisors (2 groups, n = 9 and n = 6), managers (1 group, n = 4), and parents (1 group, n = 7) in the State of Victoria, Australia. Three major themes were identified from the focus group interviews: motivation for participation, social support, and political and financial support. The most critical issue was the lack of clear policies. Both day training centres and accommodation services would benefit from development of policies related to health-promoting physical activity. Flowing on logically from the development of policy would be much needed training and support of staff.
Learning disabilities: the rise and potential demise of structured day services for adults with learning disabilities: 1955-2005
- Author:
- HENLEY Charles
- Publisher:
- Minster Press
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 192p.
- Place of publication:
- Wimborne Minster
The haste to replace structured services with unproven 'normalisation and inclusiveness' policies has led to an alarming policy vacuum. This book charts the historical development of day services for adults with learning disabilities, with the aim of enabling layman, practitioner or professional, to reach their own conclusions.
Health screening and developmental disabilities
- Authors:
- IACONO Teresa, SUTHERLAND Georgina
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 3(3), September 2006, pp.155-163.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Adults with developmental disabilities often experience health disparities when compared with the general population. The aim of this Australian study was to describe health screening activities involving a large group of adults and explore how factors, such as living arrangement, type and severity of disability, and age, influence reported rates of participation. The study involved administering surveys to adults with disabilities and their immediate support persons (parents, carers, and professional support workers) and asking whether adults had visited a general practitioner (GP) and what was their participation in preventive services during the previous 12-month period. Participation in preventive screening services ranged between 3% (screening for sexually transmitted infection) and 58% (screening for elevated blood pressure), and rates for certain services appeared low, particularly in comparison with equivalent screenings in the general population. Results showed a relationship between participation rates and living situation, type of disability, and age, but not severity of disability. The results suggest that higher rates of participation in preventative health activities among those enrolled in formal services may reflect a greater obligation or concern among paid workers and possibly a lack of awareness of health issues by families, and also that screening disparities may be attributed to GPs who may be applying guidelines from the general population but who are not aware of disability-specific issues when examining adults with disabilities.