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Ageing with a learning disability: self-building peer support to combat loneliness and social isolation
- Authors:
- POWER Andrew, BARTLETT Ruth
- Journal article citation:
- Generations Review, 26(2), 2016, pp.23-27.
- Publisher:
- British Society of Gerontology
This article summarises findings from a small scale study to look at whether peer-advocacy support can help reduce loneliness and social isolation in adults who are ageing with learning disabilities. The context for the study was an increase in the numbers of people with learning disabilities who are more vulnerable to social isolation due to reductions in the provision of day services, both due to cuts in funding and the personalisation agenda. The study was co-designed with two self-advocates with learning disabilities and two professional advocates. A total of 12 interviews with participants in two age groups: 40-55 and 55+ were conducted. The study identified a small range of local peer-support groups around the urban region where the study took place which enabled people to meet other self-advocates who they felt comfortable with. As well as relieving feelings of loneliness and isolation; the groups offered participants the opportunity to learn new skill and participate in the community. (Edited publisher abstract)
'It's the system working for the system': carers' experiences of learning disability services in Ireland
- Author:
- POWER Andrew
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 17(1), February 2009, pp.92-98.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aim of this article is to examine the experiences of families with young adults with learning disabilities trying to access services. The landscape of disability services for this group is made up of day care, special vocational training and respite places. It aims to identify the extent of an implementation gap between government rhetoric and the degree to which services are characterised as being non-supportive interactions on the ground. Using Ireland as a case study, during a time when the economy is booming and government rhetoric claims unparalleled developments in allocating resources and extra respite 'places', this article identifies the main challenges faced by family carers associated with accessing appropriate services for their disabled adult child, in their attempt to achieve greater independence. This article reports the findings of a qualitative study in which individual semi structured interviews were held with family carers (n = 25) and representatives from national carer organisations (n = 6) in Ireland. These were people caring for an adult (18–30 years) with a learning disability and their experiences were also useful in cross-checking the carer organisation interviews. The findings show that there is limited flexibility, choice and availability in meeting the preferences of the service-users, and throughout the study, services were characterised as being non-supportive interactions. This is not simply symptomatic of a lack of resources. Despite improved funding, supportive attitudes and flexibility are still crucial in meeting user requirements at the level of delivery; thus highlighting that often the system works for the system, not for the user.