LEARNING DISABILITY PRACTICEApril 2009 | Volume 12 | Number 330
Feature
An ageing population with learning disabilities faces many difficulties.
Robert Jenkins assesses whether nurses believe the three service
models in operation are meeting the needs of this group
Nurses' views about
services for older people
with learning disabilities
Aim To explore nurses' views of the strengths and
weaknesses of current patterns of service provision
for older people with learning disabilities in relation
to three service models and parent/carer needs.
Method Focus groups were held with mental health
nurses, practice nurses and nurses specialising in
the care of people with a learning disability, and an
interview was held with a district nurse.
Findings Some services may not be prepared for this
client group, nor in some cases be appropriate for it,
and there appears to be little specialist provision or
use made of mental health services.
Conclusion Specialist services and/or teams should
be developed to address the complex needs of older
people with learning disabilities, particularly those
who develop dementia.
Keywords
Learning disabilities: nursing, learning disabilities:
older adults, learning disabilities: services
Abstract ageing in people with learning disabilities starts
earlier and that they are more at risk of physical
and mental disorders and diseases (Department of
Health (DH) 2001a). Some genetic conditions, for
example, Down syndrome, may result in additional
problems such as increased prevalence of vascular
disease, hypothyroidism and dementia. As a result,
older people with learning disabilities may require
the intervention and support of nurses. To date, little
research has been undertaken on the role of nurses
in meeting the needs of this group. However, Jenkins
(2005a, 2005b) believes that nursing care should
be developed to meet the needs of the growing
numbers of older people with learning disabilities.
The views of nurses in providing services for this
population have received little, if any, attention.
Aim
To explore nurses' views of the strengths and
weaknesses of current patterns of service provision
for older people with learning disabilities in relation
to three service models and parent/carer needs.
Method
A three-stage approach was used:
Stage one: a detailed literature review, which
involved searches of computerised databases, was
undertaken.
Stage two: case studies were developed around six
older people with learning disabilities, recruiting
at least one individual from each of the age bands
(45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+) and degree of learning
disability (profound, severe, moderate and mild).
PeoPle Are living longer as a result of
improvements in social conditions, improved access
to health care and advances in medical care. The
number of older people with learning disabilities
is predicted to increase over the coming decades
(Jenkins 2000). This group may experience the same
physical deterioration as they age as the general
population. However, there is a suggestion that

Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5Page 6Page 7Page 8Page 9Page 10Page 11Page 12Page 13Page 14Page 15Page 16Page 17Page 18Page 19Page 20Page 21Page 22Page 23Page 24Page 25Page 26Page 27Page 28Page 29Page 30Page 31Page 32Page 33Page 34Page 35Page 36Page 37Page 38Page 39Page 40Page 41Page 42Page 43Page 44 Produced by PageSuite