The world’s population is ageing, and that includes people with learning disabilities (LD). Differences in care and advances in medicine mean that people with learning disabilities are living longer, but what does this mean when they are cared for by one or both parents? We are seeing situations where the parents of people with LD are getting to an age when they can no longer care for their adult son or daughter, and may even require care themselves.
How ageing affects people with learning disabilities
Everyone feels the effects of ageing differently, which is true for people with learning disabilities. For some, such as people with Down’s syndrome, ageing can happen faster than average, with early onset dementia being an increased risk. For others, reaching old age and remaining physically active is a reality.
For many people with learning disabilities, ageing can bring additional physical and mental illnesses. Diagnosing and treating new health problems in people with LD is not always easy, as symptoms can be mistaken or masked by other physical problems or behaviours.
The importance of continuity of care
People with learning disabilities need continuity of care to thrive. Constantly changing carers and routines can be confusing, upsetting and frustrating, leading to a decline in health and happiness. For many people, this continuity of care is provided by one or more family members. As the years pass and the caregiver ages though, the role of the primary carer can become difficult. They may not have the strength or energy to undertake the often physical aspects of caring, and they may develop health problems themself.
Communication is difficult for many people with learning disabilities and is one reason why continuity of care is so important. It’s a lot easier to understand someone’s wants and needs when you know them well.
A big change in the life of a person with learning disabilities can have a profound effect on their mental health. If they live at home and a parent is their primary caregiver, they could find themselves losing their parent, their carer and their home, all in one go. For this reason, it is important to have plans in place for what will happen in the future. This could mean bringing in additional care, helping with transport, ensuring healthcare is available, and the like. In some cases, transferring to residential care may be the best option.
Residential care for people with learning disabilities
Moving into a residential care home can be the best way to ensure a person with learning disabilities gets the continuity of care that they need. At Halland House, we have a deep understanding of the benefits of continuity of care and we work towards providing it for our residents. We think of ourselves as a family and many of our staff and residents have been with us for years or even decades.
Halland House is divided into three sections according to the level of care residents require, meaning smaller, close-knit groups. We have an involved process for new residents to ensure everyone gets on well together.
We also have a daycare facility here at Halland House, which is a good way to introduce someone who may need to transition into residential care. It’s an ideal way to meet our residents and staff and see if Halland House is the right fit. There are lots of fun activities and it’s also a good way to provide some respite for family carers.
Get in touch
If you would like to find out more about Halland House, our learning disabilities care home in Uckfield, East Sussex, please visit our website.