Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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The circumstances and impact of injuries on adults with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- FINLAYSON Janet, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(8), 2014, pp.400-409.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Introduction: People with learning disabilities experience higher rates of injury compared to the general population, but little is known about the circumstances and perceived impact of these injuries on people with learning disabilities themselves. Method: Content analysis was conducted from interviews with 113 adults with learning disabilities who had at least one injury in a 12–month period. Qualitative interviews were conducted with ten adults with learning disabilities (and their carers where appropriate) who had experienced serious or frequent injury or frequent falls with or without injury in a 12–month period. Findings: The most commonly reported contributory factors for injuries and/or falls were related to physical health status (for example, epilepsy) and the environment (for example, walking/banging into furniture or stairs/steps). In terms of perceived impact, the development of fear of walking outdoors unsupported or fear of crossing a road were highlighted. The non-use and misuse of assistive technology was also highlighted as a concern. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that occupational therapists have a key role to play in tailoring injury and fall prevention strategies and interventions for people with learning disabilities. In particular, environmental assessment and monitored use of assistive technology is important. (Publisher abstract)
Sexual abuse of individuals with disabilities: prevention strategies for clinical practice
- Author:
- MCEACHERN Adriana G.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 21(4), July 2012, pp.386-398.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Sexual abuse of those with disabilities is prevalent, although the incidence of such abuse is difficult to determine. Although all US states maintain statistics on child sexual abuse, the rate of victimization for individuals with disabilities is not specific. This paper reviews several studies conducted on sexual abuse of individuals with disabilities with a focus on clinical prevention strategies. The author suggests that prevention training programmes for children and adults with disabilities must be regularly implemented be disability service agencies, residential facilities, school districts, law enforcement agencies, medical and health service providers and sexual abuse assault programmes. Also, policies that require government funded researchers, law enforcement and child protection agencies to systematically collect and report data on sexual assault must be implemented so an accurate accounting of the extent of the problem can be documented. Recommendations for future directions in prevention and research are provided.
Outside looking in
- Author:
- HOPKINS Graham
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 1.2.07, 2007, pp.36-37.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
In light of reported abuse of people with learning disabilities at Orchard Hill in South London, this article looks at how service providers can be sure they are best protecting service users. The national charity Choice Support called in expert help to gain advice from the Ann Craft Trust, Voice UK and Respond. The charities, part of an adult protection alliance, were commissioned to carry out a review of polices and procedure systems; to train key staff, and review and monitor service user’s subsequent experiences.
A proactive approach to preventing abuse
- Authors:
- GOLDING Laura, CLEAR David
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 25.10.01, 2001, pp.32-33.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
Adults with learning disabilities are vulnerable to abuse from care staff to prevent abuse. Explains why nurses must be aware when the boundaries between themselves and their clients become blurred.
Pilot feasibility study of the Walking Away from Diabetes programme for adults with intellectual disabilities in two further education colleges: process evaluation findings
- Authors:
- MAINE Andrew, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 32(5), 2019, pp.1034-1046.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: People with intellectual disabilities remain at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) due to lifestyle‐associated risk factors. Educational programmes have been adapted for people with intellectual disabilities targeting ongoing T2D self‐management. However, there are no adapted programmes which aim to prevent T2D through reducing risk factors. The present study initiates addressing this gap. Methods: Further education (FE) colleges in Scotland were recruited for feasibility study using the Walking Away (WA) from Diabetes programme. Process evaluation assessed recruitment, retention, baseline physical activity levels, and acceptability and accessibility using focus groups. Results: Ninety six percent of invited students agreed to participate. WA was positively received, and some short‐term impact was described. Suggestions for further adaptations regarding materials, delivery and content were provided, including delivery embedded within FE college curriculum. Conclusions: Recruitment, retention and acceptability provide rationale for further research on T2D prevention in FE colleges. (Edited publisher abstract)
Effect and process evaluation of a structural health intervention in community residences for adults with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- ELINDER Liselotte S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 15(4), 2018, pp.319-328.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Interventions to improve health among adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) living in community residences are needed as unhealthy behaviours, obesity, and chronic diseases are more common in this group than in the general population. This study evaluated effectiveness of a structural health intervention, a study circle for paid carers aiming to improve health promotion work routines for residents, and explored barriers and facilitators in the implementation process. A quasi‐experimental design was used. Eight municipalities with 84 community residences agreed to participate with 70 of these completing the study. A 26‐item questionnaire was used regarding staff work routines in three domains (general health promotion, food and meals, physical activity) and a total score to evaluate effectiveness. An inductive qualitative method was used to explore barriers and facilitators in the implementation process. The intervention group (n = 42 residences) improved their health promoting work routines significantly more than the comparison group (n = 28 residences) in the domains of general health promotion (p = .05), physical activity (p = .02), and for the total score (p = .002), but no significant change was found in the food and meal domain (p = .11). Regarding barriers and facilitators in the implementation process, a “Need for a supportive structure and key persons with a mandate to act,” was identified as an overarching theme. Barriers and facilitators were identified within four categories: (1) characteristics of the study circle, (2) staff capacity, (3) organizational capacity, and (4) external support. This study provides evidence that a structural intervention targeting staff in community residences for people with ID can improve health promoting work routines and that the results might be generalisable. If disseminated on a wider scale, this intervention has the potential of improving health and preventing obesity and other chronic diseases in adults with ID. (Edited publisher abstract)
Making a difference: the impact of the Confidential Inquiry into premature deaths of people with learning disabilities
- Author:
- HESLOP Pauline
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 43(2), 2015, pp.142-149.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The Confidential Inquiry into premature deaths of people with learning disabilities (CIPOLD) was commissioned by the Department of Health in England in 2010 to investigate the avoidable or premature deaths of people with learning disabilities through retrospective reviews of deaths. Both the process of conducting CIPOLD and the findings of the study itself made an impact on the way in which professionals thought about issues relating to people with learning disabilities and led to changes in policy and practice. Much of the impact of CIPOLD came from arming practitioners, family carers, people with learning disabilities and policy makers with the research findings and encouraging them to take on the mantle of change from there, for example, by increasing the provision of training or reviewing their current practice. There were a number of challenges that the research team faced. First, they needed to ensure the assiduous recording of any impact that took place throughout the duration of the research and beyond. Secondly, they were careful to make sure that as far as possible, professionals were involved and that it was a learning experience for them from which they had something to gain. Thirdly, self-reflexivity on the part of the research team was required in order for them to understand where their own strengths and limitations lay. (Publisher abstract)
Promoting exercise as part of a physiotherapy-led falls pathway service for adults with intellectual disabilities: a service evaluation
- Authors:
- CROCKETT Jennifer, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 28(3), 2015, p.257–264.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: People with intellectual disabilities experience high rates of falls. Balance and gait problems are common in people with intellectual disabilities, increasing the likelihood of falls; thus, tailored exercise interventions to improve gait and balance are recommended. The present authors set up a physiotherapy-led falls pathway service (FPS) for clients with intellectual disabilities to promote exercise and prevent falls. Method: Fifty clients with intellectual disabilities were referred in an 18-month period, 35 (70%) were prescribed exercise and 27 (54%) completed the exercise programme. The FPS was evaluated using the following outcome measures: Tinetti score, number of falls, clinician's judgement and carer's judgement. Results: Improvement in balance and mobility and a decrease in the number of falls were reported post-exercise intervention. Conclusion: Physiotherapists have a key role to play in promoting exercise to prevent falls in services for people with intellectual disabilities. This evaluation suggests positive outcomes for these clients to reduce or prevent further falls. (Publisher abstract)
Addressing challenging behavior in people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities: analyzing the effects of daily practice
- Authors:
- POPPERS Petra, PUTTEN Annette A.J. van der, VLASKAMP Carla
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 11(2), 2014, pp.128-136.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
As some people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) are at a high risk of developing a challenging behaviour, it is useful to look at measures taken to prevent or diminish this type of behaviour. The authors undertook a study of how self-injurious, stereotypical, destructive, or aggressive behaviours are addressed in daily practice in residential facilities. A stratified sample of 30 people with the most severe and frequently reported challenging behaviours was selected from a dataset of 181 children and adults with PIMD. Individual comprehensive service plans were used to determine whether challenging behaviours were present and how these problems were addressed. In total, only 51.8% of the challenging behaviours that occurred were described in the individual plans, and for 53.7% of the challenging behaviours, strategies or interventions were included in the individual service plans. Only 17.2% of the cases contained goals formulated to prevent or diminish such behaviour. A significant positive relationship was found between the severity of challenging behaviour and the extent to which it was described in the individual comprehensive service plans. The authors also noted that interventions that were aimed at diminishing or preventing challenging behavior were highly simplistic, and virtually no goals were formulated to document, diminish, or prevent challenging behaviour in people with PIMD. (Edited publisher abstract)
Protection tops agenda
- Author:
- VALIOS Natalie
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 23.9.99, 1999, p.12.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
The government's consultation document on a multi-agency strategy to tackle the abuse of vulnerable adults has been broadly welcomed. Reports on what it will mean to social services.