Help older people with learning disabilities plan for future

Health and social care professionals should help older people with learning disabilities live healthy and fulfilling lives as they age, including planning for life-changing events, NICE says.

If the death of a parent who is their carer is sudden and no future plans are made, the person may be placed in a residential home which may be inappropriate, NICE said.

Future plans should include a person’s housing needs, their support network and what to do in emergencies. It should be reviewed every year or when circumstances change, the guidance recommends.

The draft guidance, once final, will advise providers and commissioners on how to support people to stay healthy and active, and how to access healthcare services, such as routine screening.

The draft guidance also highlights the increased risk of dementia in some older people learning disabilities, and how health professionals should distinguish symptoms from those associated with their learning disability or any mental health problems.

Gillian Leng, deputy chief executive and director of health and social care at NICE, said: “People with learning disabilities are living longer and reaching old age. This means that services have had to develop and adapt to cater to their needs. Our guidance will help providers and commissioners support people with learning disabilities to achieve good health and be able to spend time the way they want.”