Best practice in caring for adults with dementia and learning disabilities
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence & Practice    

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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