Best practice in caring for adults with dementia and learning disabilities
André Strydom Reader in intellectual disabilities, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, England
Tamara Al-Janabi LonDownS research project manager, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, England
Marie Houston Advance practitioner nurse, Learning Disability Team, Tower Hamlets Learning Disability Service, London, England
James Ridley Senior lecturer in learning disabilities, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, England
People with learning disabilities, particularly Down’s syndrome, are at increased risk of dementia. At present, services and care tailored to people with both dementia and a learning disability are unsatisfactory. This article reviews the literature specific to dementia in people with learning disabilities, including: comprehensive screening, diagnosis, management, environmental considerations, end of life care and training issues for nursing staff. Recommendations for best practice and service improvement are made to improve the quality of life for individuals with dementia and learning disabilities, pre and post-diagnosis.
Nursing Standard.
doi: 10.7748/ns.2016.e10524
Correspondence
a.strydom@ucl.ac.uk
Peer review
This article has been subject to external doubleblind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Received: 12 April 2016
Accepted: 19 July 2016
Published online: 27 September 2016
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