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Assessing the health of older adults with intellectual disabilities: a user led approach
- Authors:
- FENDER Aileen, MARSDEN Lou, STARR John M.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 11(3), September 2007, pp.223-239.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Older adults with intellectual disability are at increased risk of a wide range of health problems. Hitherto, methods to assess these problems have been healthcare-professional-led and largely based on traditional medical models. Following a literature review and focus group work we produced a user-led health assessment that was feasible and acceptable. The assessment was administered to 57 adults with a wide range of intellectual disability aged 40 years and over, living in the community. The assessment took a median of 21 minutes to administer and covered user-led themes of participation/ability, nutrition and hygiene/self-care. A principal component representing a user-led general health measure correlated positively with the number of health problems and the number of drugs. Further studies using such user-led assessments are needed to assess whether they can have a wider application.
Nutrition and learning disabilities
- Author:
- GRASSICK Susan
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 9.8.01, 2001, pp.48-50.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
Nutrition plays a role in establishing and regaining health in individuals and populations, and people with learning disabilities are no exception.
Supporting people with learning disabilities to have a healthy diet and be active
- Author:
- PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND
- Publisher:
- Public Health England
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 4
- Place of publication:
- London
This factsheet provides information for social care staff on supporting people with learning disabilities to have a healthy diet and be active. It is the seventh in a series of factsheets which show how social care staff can support the health needs of people with learning disabilities. The leaflet also includes a link to a supporting slide set that can be used by social care staff as a training resource. (Edited publisher abstract)
Characterisation of user-defined health status in older adults with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- STARR J. M., MARSDEN L.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 52(6), June 2008, pp.483-489.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Older adults with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) have an excess disease burden that standard health assessments are designed to detect. Older adults with ID have a broader concept of health with dimensions of well being in addition to absence of disease in line with the World Health Organization's health definition. This study sought to characterise user-defined health status in a sample of older adults with ID. A user-led health assessment was administered to 57 adults with ID aged 40 years and over. Cluster analysis on user-defined health themes of participation, nutrition and hygiene/self-care identified clear separation of participants into a healthier and a less healthy group. Disease burden and medication use were greater in the less healthy group. The healthier group were taller, stronger and had better vision than the less healthy group. Constipation, urinary incontinence and faecal incontinence were commoner in the less healthy group. There were few significant differences between health groups on the majority of standard physical-examination items. There is considerable overlap between user-defined health and that assessed by standard instruments. In addition, user-defined health encompasses aspects of physical fitness not captured by traditional disease-based health models.
A survey of vitamin D level in people with learning disability in long-stay hospital wards in Hong Kong
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 10(1), March 2006, pp.47-59.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Serum vitamin D level was measured in 122 patients with learning disabilities in long-term care wards. Such people are at risk of developing vitamin D deficiency. Low vitamin D is often attributed to lack of sunshine, poor dietary intake and the deleterious effect of anticonvulsant therapy. The results of this study confirmed that a low level of vitamin D prevails, regardless of anticonvulsant usage. Sunshine exposure was virtually non-existent for most patients. Research has shown that when sunlight exposure is limited, osteomalacia in the British Asian community is determined by dietary factors. Our subjects had three types of diet: standard, soft and tube feeding. For both males and females, the tube feeding group had a significantly higher mean level of vitamin D than the other groups. Regular sunshine exposure is recommended for people requiring long-term infirmary care; alternatively, dietary supplement of vitamin D should be considered.
Gastrostomy and children: a review of the literature
- Author:
- HERRINGTON Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Society, 15(5), 2001, pp.375-386.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Children with developmental delays often suffer feeding difficulties. It has become common for those with a severe likelihood of malnutrition to be considered for alternative methods of nutritional intake, often gastrostomy. As part of a pilot study investigating the effects of gastrostomy on the child and their family, the authors conducted a literature review. This paper describes the method and findings of the literature review and concludes with a discussion of the topics raised. The main conclusion is that although the need for gastrostomy in this group of children has shown to be effective in maintaining adequate weight gain and nutritional intake, the support given to the family prior to, and after the operation is inadequate.
Physical health of adults with intellectual disabilities
- Editors:
- PRASHER Vee, JANICKI Matthew
- Publisher:
- Blackwell
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 286p.,bibliogs.
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
In common with the rest of the population, people with intellectual disabilities are experiencing increased longevity. Evidence suggests that mental health disorders may occur in up to half of all persons with intellectual disability and that these disorders accelerate significantly with age. Part one: prevalence and diagnosis; part two: treatments and interventions.
Learning disability and dementia: a training guide for staff
- Authors:
- KERR Diane, WILSON Claire
- Publisher:
- University of Stirling. Dementia Services Development Centre
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 103p.,bibliogs.
- Place of publication:
- Stirling
This guide is intended for direct care staff who are caring for adults with a learning disability and dementia. Some of these people will be over sixty five but some, mainly with Down's Syndrome will be in their fifties. Staff may be working in a variety of settings where there may have been an emphasis on self determination and independence.