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Does he have sugar in his tea? Communication between people with learning disabilities, their carers and hospital staff
- Author:
- BELL Ruth
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 17(2), 2012, pp.57-63.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
A consistent theme in the literature has been the detrimental and sometimes fatal consequences of poor communication in relation to the care of people with learning disabilities. This study sought to evaluate a hospital passport tool designed to provide information and improve communication between people with learning disabilities and hospital staff. The Traffic Light Hospital Assessment was designed to provide essential person-centred information in a user friendly format, including life-saving information such as whether a person has dysphagia. This qualitative study was designed to explore people's experiences of good and bad communication in hospital and their experiences of how the passport impacts on that process of communication. The study included: semi-structured interviews with 12 family carers and health and social care staff; a focus group of 8 adults with learning disabilities; and a reflexive journal analysis. The findings consistently reflected the view that the Traffic Light Hospital Assessment Passport can act as a useful multi-agency resource to improve communication and continuity of care for people with learning disabilities. The reasons for poor communication emerging from the study are discussed, together with recommendations for practice development.
A communication perspective
- Author:
- WETHERED Chris
- Journal article citation:
- Mencap News, 47, September 1994, pp.14-15.
Communication is a problem for most people who have learning difficulties. Explains how carer expectations and feedback are the keys to improving clients' communication skills.
Carer satisfaction with telephone consultations in a community intellectual disability unit
- Authors:
- BAINS Harinder, BONELL Enrique, SPEIGHT Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 14(4), December 2010, pp.259-265.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Telephone consultations have been shown to reduce the number of surgery contacts and out-of-hours visits. However, previous studies in general practice settings have shown patient dissatisfaction with a model based on telephone consultations. This paper reports on a survey of carer satisfaction with telephone consultations with doctors in a community service in Lincolnshire, England, for people with learning disabilities. Eleven participants returned a 10-item carer satisfaction questionnaire following telephone consultations over a 4 week period with questions about suitability, effectiveness, efficiency and appropriateness of telephone consultations. Findings indicated a high level of satisfaction with accessibility, effectiveness and suitability. Also, telephone consultations were an efficient use of time. However more than one-third of carers said they would have preferred a face-to-face consultation with the doctor. The paper concludes that, although routine practice in psychiatry, telephone consultations need further research to establish them as an alternative to face-to-face consultations.
Copying letters to service users with learning disabilities: opinions of service users, carers and professionals working within learning disability services
- Authors:
- HOVEY Toni, CHESWICK Claire
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37(1), March 2009, pp.50-55.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The government has made a commitment that patients should be able to receive copies of clinicians' letters about them as a right in order to improve communication and enable patients to participate in their care. In South Gloucestershire, the opinions of local service users with learning disabilities, their carers, and professionals working within learning disability services about this issue were sought using questionnaires and focus groups in order to identify and then develop good practice. A number of practice issues were identified: protocols for developing individualised accessible information are needed, involvement of service users in the management of their information and maintenance of its confidentiality, and involvement of carers in the sharing of information, if this is appropriate. A communication strategy needs to be developed by services working with people with learning disabilities, in conjunction with service users and carers. The resource and training implications of this area of service development need to be considered.
Make a difference in dementia care training: resources that are effective, meaningful and fun
- Editors:
- SHEARD David M, (ed.)
- Publisher:
- Alzheimer's Society
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 148p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This manual includes 60 proven icebreakers, exercises. Session plans, notes, diagrams and evaluation questions ensure the exercises are ready to use immediately. Although the exercises focus on dementia care, they will also be of interest and use to trainers working in other fields.Topic areas include: the feelings and experiences of people with dementia; focusing on the person, not just their dementia; understanding the basic functions of the brain; viewing dementia as a disability; and communication – the meaning behind the words.
Interpreting the communication of people with profound and multiple learning difficulties
- Authors:
- PORTER Jill, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 29(1), March 2001, pp.12-16.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This article highlights some of the issues involved in interpreting the communication behaviours of people with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLDs). Argues that both inference and intention can play an important role in the communication process, and this raises a number of difficulties and dangers where one of the communication partners is not in a position to correct misunderstandings.Discusses the importance of validating communication and poses a number of key questions to ask those who are most significant in the life of a person with PMLDs. A case study is provided to illustrates a number of these issues.
Commentary on “Communication is the key: improving outcomes for people with learning disabilities”
- Author:
- BRADSHAW Jill
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 18(3), 2013, pp.141-145.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article provides a commentary on Lewer and Harding's article about the use of “the open communication tool”(OCT). It reviews the OCT as a method of both developing shared goals and understandings and identifying implementation issues. The author comments that the OCT can provide a useful model when working in services. It might be enhanced by also including ways of systematically addressing the views of the person with a learning disability and their family members. Indirect interventions delivered in the way described may be problematic in that some research suggests that staff teams place greater value on knowledge that is directly gained by experience of working with the person. This raises questions relating to the model within which clinical services are often delivered to supported housing settings and whether this needs to change. (Edited publisher abstract)
Telecare and learning disability: using telecare effectively in the support of people with learning disabilities
- Editors:
- KERR Brian, et al, (eds.)
- Publisher:
- University of Stirling. Dementia Services Development Centre; Joint Improvement Team
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 40p.
- Place of publication:
- Stirling
This booklet provides practical guidance on how telecare can contribute to improved outcomes and enhance the support, protection, and quality of life of people with a learning disability. It also considers the importance of telecare in providing support and reassurance to carers. Sections in the booklet include: definitions of telecare and related concepts; the importance of good needs and risk assessment if telecare is to help meet those needs and manage risk; ethical dilemmas and how they can be resolved; how telecare can form part of a package of care and support, and issue particular to carers. Illustrative case studies are include throughout. Suggested content and a timetable for a one-day training programme are included to help trainers design both awareness raising and skill-development programmes. Examples of equipment which might contribute to the safety and quality of life of the telecare user are featured. A reference list and additional resources are included at the end of the book. This is one of four publications funded by the Scottish Government’s National Telecare Development Programme. The books are primarily aimed at assessors, care and support staff and their managers, telecare service managers and development staff.
Message received?
- Authors:
- GIBSON Lynn, MATTHEWS Dorothy, REGNARD Claud
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, 10(8), October 2010, pp.24-25.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
This article examines the identification of distress in people with learning disabilities who have trouble communicating. Correct identification of distress among this group will lead to enhanced diagnosis, better symptom control, and ultimately much improved health care. Undetected symptoms in people with learning disabilities are often due to lack of communication. This article argues that meaningful communication depends on the ability of people to recognise and translate the many different cues available and not just those verbally expressed. Observation by key people in the lives of people with learning disability, particularly carers, can be crucial to identify and treat the symptoms of distress. The article describes the Disability Distress Assessment Tool (DisDAT), an observational tool developed to document content and distressed states. DisDAT can be completed with the involvement of friends and family, and ensures that the carers’ knowledge and contribution is accepted in any discussions on what is wrong with the patient.
Making complaints work for people with learning disabilities
- Author:
- THURMAN Sue
- Publisher:
- British Institute of Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 21p.
- Place of publication:
- Kidderminster
Everyone has the right to complain; being denied access to complaints procedures may well be considered a breach of the Human Rights Act. This guide explains the need for an open, responsive culture and a willingness to listen in order to ensure that people with learning disabilities can be confident their complaints and comments will be listened to and acted upon.