Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Older people with learning disabilities: workforce issues
- Authors:
- HUSSEIN Shereen, MANTHORPE Jill
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Integrated Care, 13(1), February 2005, pp.17-23.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Life expectancy of people with learning disabilities has increased substantially. Services for older people with learning disabilities are provided by various sectors and practitioners (generic health and social care, or specialist learning disability or old age). Literature suggests practitioners do not feel well-equipped to support people with learning disabilities as they grow older, and older people's services do not always have the opportunity to share experiences and skills. Highlights areas such as dementia support, where the intersection between services is not clear, and explores what might help practitioners meet the needs of people with learning disabilities as they grow older.
Dignity in care: communication
- Author:
- SOCIAL CARE INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE
- Publisher:
- Social Care Institute for Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 16 minutes 7 seconds
- Place of publication:
- London
Good communication can help people to maintain their dignity. It is vital that staff develop other ways of communicating with people who have a cognitive impairment or limited speech. This film provides an example of communicating with Matthew, a young man with Down's Syndrome Matthew is encouraged to use a diary so that he knows what he's going to be doing on any particular week. It's a good way for staff to find out what's been happening in Matthew's life. The film also shows how, for older people, past memories of being at the beach can be used as a useful communication tool. Communication in practice can mean asking people how they prefer to be addressed and to respect their wishes; giving people information about the service in advance and in a suitable format; and not assuming that you know what people want because of their culture, ability or any other factor. (Edited publisher abstract)
Impact of dementia-derived nonpharmacological intervention procedures on cognition and behavior in older adults with intellectual disabilities: a 3-year follow-up study
- Authors:
- DE VREESE Luc P., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 9(2), June 2012, pp.92-102.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Some adults with intellectual disabilities (ID), in particular those with Down syndrome, are at increased risk of dementia. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of specialised environmental and psychosocial interventions in delaying onset of dementia or in slowing down its rate of progression in this population. Specifically, the paper presents the preliminary results of an ongoing prospective study, called the DAD (Down Alzheimer Dementia) Project, carried out in Trento Italy. The study participants were a sample of 14 adults with worsening cognition and everyday functioning who were no longer manageable by their family or staff in day centres or group homes, and who were relocated in a model special care unit (SCU) designed to proactively accommodate the needs of people with ID and dementia. Baseline level and rate of decline across a 3-year period were assessed by means of the Dementia Questionnaire for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities and compared to 2 control groups not in dementia-capable programmes matched for age, sex, and severity of ID. After 3 years, the findings showed some improvement in cognition and stabilisation in everyday functioning and behaviours in the SCU residents and a worsening in the control groups. The findings confirm the validity of this ‘in-place progression’ model and provide a platform for continuing progress in person-centred services and care for aging persons with ID.
Dementia in older adults with intellectual disabilities: epidemiology, presentation and diagnosis
- Authors:
- STRYDOM Andre, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 7(2), June 2010, pp.96-110.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The authors conducted a literature review on the epidemiology, presentation and diagnosis of dementia in older adults with intellectual or learning disabilities (ID) and specific genetic syndromes, such as Downs syndrome (DS) using Medline, EMBASE and PsycINFO for original papers in English, German or Dutch, between 1997 and 2008. Articles from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, United States, Netherlands, Ireland; Japan, South Africa, Scandinavia and Italy had varied methodologies and differences in diagnoses resulting in a wide range of prevalence rates of dementia. Rates of dementia in those with ID, not because of DS, were comparable or higher than those in the general population. The onset of Alzheimers disease in DS appears earlier and the prevalence increases from less than 10% in the 40’s, to more than 30% in the 50’s with varying prevalence reported in those over 60 years. Incidence rates increased with age. Presentation differs in the ID population compared with the general population, with those with DS presenting with behavioural changes believed to be due to frontal lobe deficits. Few studies of dementia in other genetic syndromes such as Rett syndrome, an autistic spectrum disorder, and Sanfilippo syndrome were located in the literature, but these are discussed and tabulated along with others found.
Supporting persons with Down syndrome and advanced dementia: challenges and care concerns
- Authors:
- McCARRON Mary, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 9(2), May 2010, pp.285-298.
- Publisher:
- Sage
There has been growing interest in addressing resource, training, and service redesign issues including an increase in collaboration in response to the increasing prevalence of dementia among persons with intellectual disability (specifically Down syndrome) – and recently this has included consideration of the specific issues in advanced dementia. This study aimed to understand staff challenges, issues and perceptions of critical issues in caring for persons with both intellectual disability and advanced dementia. Thirteen focus group interviews were held involving staff in six intellectual disability services and one specialist palliative care provider in Dublin, Ireland, where the staff identified three key themes: readiness to respond to end of life needs; the fear of swallowing difficulties; and environmental concerns and ageing in place. Results highlight four underlying issues that emerged in this study offer clues to solutions: differences in staff preparation associated with settings; lack of understanding and lack of collaboration with palliative care services; uncertainties about the ability to transfer existing palliative care models to persons with intellectual disability and dementia; and the need to develop training on end stage dementia and related care approaches.
Planning ahead: meeting the needs of older people with intellectual disabilities in the United Kingdom
- Authors:
- HATZIDIMITRIADOU Eleni, MILNE Alisoun
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 4(3), August 2005, pp.341-359.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This article aims to review existing evidence regarding the older population with intellectual disabilitiesand their family carers, with a view to highlighting their health and social care needs and exploring the policy and service context of their care. A particular focus is on identifying the core elements of effective service planning and development. The focus of the article is the UK, but the issues explored have wider relevance particularly in western societies.
Ageing and learning disability
- Author:
- HOLLAND A.J.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 176, January 2000, pp.26-31.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study aims to identify some key biological, psychological and social issues relevant to how ageing might particularly effect people with learning disabilities. Presents a selected review which considers the extent to which there are similarities and differences relative to people without learning disabilities. Findings suggest that there is a convergence, in later life, between people with a learning disability and those without. There is a lack of a concerted response to ensure that the best possible health social care is provided for people with learning disabilities in later life.
The neuropsychological assessment of age related cognitive deficits in adults with Down's Syndrome
- Authors:
- CRAYTON Lissa, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 11(3), 1998, pp.255-272.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
There is substantial evidence that older adults who have Down's Syndrome are at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. In this study, adults with Down's Syndrome were assessed using a battery of neuropsychological tests, some of which had been used to assess dementia arising from Alzheimer's Disease in the general population. The results of a pre-existing global cognitive comparison, showed no difference between age groups on neuropsychological deficits which may indicate advanced dementia. However, the older age groups showed significantly impaired performance on memory tests in comparison to the younger age group. It is concluded that the more subtle cognitive impairments which associate to Alzheimer's Disease can be identified in the presence of a global cognitive impairment with sufficiently sensitive tests.
Personality and behavioural changes do not precede memory problems as possible signs of dementia in ageing people with Down syndrome
- Authors:
- BLOK J.B., SCHEIRS J.G.M., THIJM N.S.
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 32(12), 2017, pp.1257-1263.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objective: The objective was to find out whether changes in personality and adaptive functioning or memory processes decline first in ageing people with Down syndrome. Methods: The authors measured these variables cross-sectionally in a Dutch sample (22 to 62 years of age) of 68 institutionalised people with Down syndrome. Results: The scores on all the variables except one of the temperament scales were found to decline gradually with increasing age, but deterioration of episodic memory started earlier. Conclusions: The authors argued that a subset of their sample suffered from dementia. Furthermore, the data suggested that immediate memory impairment is one of the earliest signs of the disease in people with Down syndrome, just as it is in the general population. (Edited publisher abstract)
`I am a normal man': a narrative analysis of the accounts of older people with Down's syndrome who lived in institutionalised settings
- Authors:
- BROWN Jennifer, DODD Karen, VETERE Arlene
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 38(3), September 2010, pp.217-224.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper is a narrative analysis of the accounts of 6 older people with Down's syndrome who spent part of their childhood in institutional environments. The study aimed to find out how the participants talked about themselves. All of the participants spoke about their childhood, current and future lives. They had interesting and moving stories to tell about their lives. Most participants were able to reflect upon their strengths, limitations and hopes. The analysis highlighted the commonalities across the accounts: loss, abuse, health, significant others, transition, resilience and identity. Significantly, none of the participants identified themselves as having `Down's syndrome' or a `learning disability,' nor did they identify with being `older'. Instead, individuals identified themselves in relation to gender and social roles. The accounts varied in terms of their form, structure, coherence and reflexive capacity. Clinical implications for practice and research are discussed.