Findings of this study clearly identify the emotional, informational and practical supports required by these ageing family carers. These findings have national and international relevance in influencing how governments and service providers support parent and sibling carers to proactively plan for the future, and in the development of both in-home and out-of-home options when a family carer can no longer provide care. This is more urgent than ever given the growing numbers of older persons with intellectual disabilities in future decades.
Because of their enhanced predisposition for the development of diabetes this population merits particular attention with regards to screening for the onset of diabetes. The extent to which the quality of diabetes care indicators were achieved was variable but results suggest that for many people the indices were not met, that glycaemic control was poor, that only a quarter were of normal weight, that many were hypertensive and that almost a quarter had no record of their lipid levels. These findings provoke two important questions: first, who should be responsible for promoting diabetes management in this client group and second, how can service provision be tailored to better meet their needs? Greater collaborative working and education is required between ID services, primary healthcare and diabetes clinicians in order to promote the health and meet the quality indicators of diabetes care among this population.
Cancer prevention has been identified as the most cost-effective strategy for cancer control. This should extend to all groups including women with intellectual disability, seeking to access breast cancer screening. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of healthcare professionals, such as primary healthcare staff (n= 8) and breast care staff (n= 10), on supporting women with intellectual disability to access breast screening in one region in the UK. A qualitative approach using focus groups and telephone interviews was adopted. Healthcare professionals identified that not only was it important that women with intellectual disability undergo regular breast screening but that they should have the same rights as other women to access breast screening services. While many varied risk factors for breast cancer in women with intellectual disability were noted, the level of cognitive functioning was clearly significant. Barriers to accessing breast screening included literacy problems, consent issues and physical health; practical barriers such as transport and timing of appointment; and barriers attributed to healthcare professionals, including staff attitude and lack of awareness and training. The participants identified the need to raise awareness and health promotion education not only for the women with intellectual disability but also for healthcare professionals, alongside developing more interdisciplinary practice.
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