Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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A pilot memory cafe for people with learning disabilities and memory difficulties
- Authors:
- KIDDLE Hannah, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 44(3), 2016, p.175–181.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Memory cafes have been found to normalise experiences of dementia and provide access to an accepting social network. People with learning disabilities are at increased risk of developing dementia, but the possible benefits of attending a memory cafe are not known. This study evaluates a 12-week pilot memory cafe for people with learning disabilities in terms of adaptations required and benefits of attending. Results indicate that affect levels significantly improved across the course of the cafe and that communication, interaction, alertness and participation in other activities improved outside the cafe. Future plans for attendance at memory cafes for people with learning disabilities are discussed. (Publisher abstract)
The assessment of executive functioning in people with intellectual disabilities: an exploratory analysis
- Authors:
- BEVINS Shelley, HURSE Emily
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 44(2), 2016, pp.87-94.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The following article details a piece of service development work undertaken as part of the Plymouth Down Syndrome Screening Programme. The work aimed to review the use of three measures assessing executive functioning skills used within the Programme as well as with people without Down syndrome. Three tasks assessing executive functioning (the Weigl, Cats and Dogs, and verbal fluency task) were evaluated. The Weigl task was removed from the Programme and analyses due to floor effects and difficulties in administration. Correlation analyses showed relationships between the Cats and Dogs task and two other measures, cognitive skills as reported by carers and object memory. No relationships were found between the verbal fluency task and other measures. A full consideration is given to these findings, and implications for future practice are considered. Further data are needed to make full conclusions about the value of the tasks in predicting dementia in people with intellectual disabilities and people with Down syndrome. Further recommendations concerning the development of the assessment of executive skills are also considered. (Publisher abstract)
Will general practitioners be adequately prepared to meet the complexities of enhanced dementia screening for people with learning disabilities and Down syndrome: key considerations
- Author:
- ROWE Michelle
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 44(1), 2016, pp.43-48.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This article provides a timely response in regard to the Department of Health's current initiative to financially reward GPs to prioritise and undertake dementia screening for people with learning disabilities over the age of 50 years and for people with Down syndrome over the age of 40 years. Whilst GPs are becoming increasingly aware of their responsibility to care for the complex needs of people with learning disabilities, the implementation of dementia screening poses a multitude of challenges. Research has continued to suggest how difficult it is to detect the early and often ambiguous signs of dementia for someone who has pre-existing cognitive impairments and may present with atypical symptomology. And it continues to be a difficult process even for those who specialise within this area. However, GPs who choose to opt into this financially incentivised scheme will now be offering dementia screening. This article outlines the main GP aims within the dementia screening process and the difficulties that may be encountered, with specific focus upon: offering a dementia screen; obtaining consent; undertaking screening within the most appropriate setting; choosing a dementia screening tool and developing a baseline; detecting early dementia signs. (Edited publisher abstract)
Indirect payments: when the Mental Capacity Act interacts with the personalisation agenda
- Authors:
- JEPSON Marcus, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 24(5), 2016, pp.623-630.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper reports findings from a study that aimed to explore how practitioners were bringing together the demands of the personalisation agenda, in particular the offer of direct payments (DPs), with the Mental Capacity Act, and to investigate current practices of offering and administering indirect payments for people who lack capacity to consent to them, including the use of ‘suitable person’ proxies under the new regulations (DH, 2009). The study adopted a qualitative interview-based design; participants were social work practitioners (67) and recipients of ‘indirect’ payments (18) in six local authorities in England in 2011–2012. The paper reports on five key decision-making points in the indirect payments process: the decision to take on an indirect payment, the assessment of mental capacity, the identification of a suitable person, the establishment of the care recipient's best interests and the decisions about how to execute the indirect payment. The authors found that practitioners and suitable people had different experiences of the system, although in both cases, there was overarching support for the benefits of enabling people who lack capacity to consent to a DP to receive their social care funding in the form of an ‘indirect’ payment via a proxy suitable person. (Publisher abstract)
Making communication accessible for all: a guide for health and social care (HSC) staff
- Author:
- BELFAST HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST
- Publisher:
- Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 48
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
- Edition:
- 2nd ed.
A practical guide providing information to enable health and social care staff communicate more effectively with people who may have a disability or a communication support need. It looks at communicating with people with a range of disabilities, including people who are deaf or have a hearing loss, people who are blind or partially sighted, people who are deafblind, people who have a learning disability, people who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and people living with dementia. It also looks at communicating with someone after a stroke or acquired brain injury. The guide aims to help staff to think differently about communication; highlight current legislation; understand to enable more positive outcomes and experiences for people with communication support needs; and help create communication friendly environments to support people to communicate to the best of their ability. It covers face to face communication, telephone communication, written communication, and providing information on the internet. (Edited publisher abstract)
Investigating the lived experience of people with Down syndrome with dementia: overcoming methodological and ethical challenges
- Author:
- WATCHMAN Karen
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 13(2), 2016, p.190–198.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Adults with Down syndrome are at increased risk of dementia at a significantly younger age and remain under-represented as participants in dementia-related research. Because little is known about their personal experiences either immediately postdiagnosis or as dementia progresses, there is little opportunity that shared individual experiences can shape future policy and practice. To remedy this omission, the author examined methodological and ethical challenges identified as part of a research study that included people with Down syndrome affected by dementia. It has been contended that traditional qualitative approaches are less effective when participants are affected by changing cognitive functioning and reduced verbal communication. To counteract this contention overt participant observation and an adapted narrative research method were used as part of a three-year longitudinal study to help better understand the lived experiences of three adults with Down syndrome affected by dementia. Methodological and ethical challenges were shown to collide, and factors contributing to this effect included identifying process consent, accurate representation of participants, the role of and relationship with the researcher, participants, lack of awareness of their diagnosis of dementia, and need to recognize the importance of social interaction while maintaining academic rigor. Reflections are proffered on two conceptual and practice issues, with a call for both to be recognised and addressed in terms of future policy and practice. First is a lack of awareness of a sense of “self” or identity, resulting in individuals with Down syndrome and dementia being defined by their situation rather than individual preference or need. Second is the lack of information postdiagnosis about dementia being shared with people who have Down syndrome. (Publisher abstract)
Co-producing support for people with long-term health conditions: evaluation of an NHS East of England co-production programme
- Author:
- NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM FOR INCLUSION
- Publisher:
- National Development Team for Inclusion
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 42
- Place of publication:
- Bath
Shares the knowledge and experience from an evaluation of six NHS sites in the East of England Strategic Clinical Network region which adopted co-production to develop support for long-term health conditions such as progressive neurological disease, mental health and learning disabilities. The evaluation findings are reported in three sections. Section one looks at how the projects worked in co-production, the challenges they faced, the lessons they learned and the outcomes achieved around working in co-production. Section two reports on the activities and progress made towards to achieving an improved service outcome for people using services. Section three discusses the wider impact of the projects in local areas going forward. The sites all faced challenges in implementing co-production, These included the process being more time-consuming than anticipated; more resource intensive; and difficulties in achieving equal partnerships due to well-established power relationships. However, early evidence suggests that alternative approaches to service delivery are developing that should lead to outcome and cost-effective benefits in the future. In addition the projects have identified an increased understanding between services and people who use services and benefits for those involved including development of skill levels and work competencies. The report identifies eight lessons for those trying to implement co-production strategies within the health sector. (Edited publisher abstract)
A different ending: addressing inequalities in end of life care: overview report
- Author:
- CARE QUALITY COMMISSION
- Publisher:
- Care Quality Commission
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 41
- Place of publication:
- Newcastle upon Tyne
This report provides the background to the Care Quality Commission thematic review of how dying patients are treated across various settings, an overview of the key findings and recommendations for providers, commissioners and local health and care system leaders, as well as information on what CQC will do going forward. The review focused on end of life care for people who may be less likely to receive good care, whether because of diagnosis, age, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or social circumstances. The report shows that where commissioners and services are taking an equality-led approach that responds to people’s individual needs, people receive better care. Although some commissioners and providers of end of life care are doing this well, many are not. People from the groups included in the review reported mixed experiences of end of life care, and highlighted barriers that sometimes prevented them from experiencing good, personalised end of life care. In particular, the review found that lack of awareness of people’s individual needs is a significant barrier to good care and that commissioners and providers do not always consider the needs of everyone in their community. (Edited publisher abstract)