Double jeopardy? Needs and services for older people who have learning disabilities

Increasing numbers of people with learning disabilities are living into older adulthood,creating important challenges for services. Greater local understanding of the specific health needs of this population is crucial to influence needs-led service planning. The study used a questionnaire survey to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of intellectual disabilities 2003-12, Vol.7 (4), p.323-344
Main Authors: BLAND, Rachel, HUTCHINSON, Nick, OAKES, Peter, YATES, Chrissie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adults
Biological and medical sciences
Breast cancer
Community health
District nurses
Family physicians
Health needs
Health problems
Health status
Incontinence
Intellectual disabilities
Learning disabilities
Learning disabled people
Medical sciences
Medical screening
Mental health
Older people
Organization of mental health. Health systems
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Questionnaires
Social psychiatry. Ethnopsychiatry
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Summary:Increasing numbers of people with learning disabilities are living into older adulthood,creating important challenges for services. Greater local understanding of the specific health needs of this population is crucial to influence needs-led service planning. The study used a questionnaire survey to identify people aged over.. who have learning disabilities,covered by a community health trust in England. Specific types of health problems for this older population were identified,along with the sources and types of community supports received and care staff satisfaction with these supports. The most frequently occurring health problems related to psychological/behavioural,incontinence/excretory and circulatory/respiratory needs. Overall general practitioners,followed by community/district nurses,provided the majority of healthcare support. Generally care staff appeared satisfied with the access and quality of health support. There were alarming findings in relation to some areas of health screening. Cervical,breast and testicular examinations were rare. The implications of the study are discussed.
ISSN:1469-0047
1744-6295
DOI:10.1177/1469004703074002