Scotland's care home guidance urges better care for people with learning disabilities and dementia

Care homes in Scotland have been given national guidance to help them give ‘appropriate support’ for people with learning disabilities, who also have a diagnosis of dementia.

Described as the first of its kind, the guidance, developed by the Care Inspectorate and Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS), comes in response to the issue that ‘care homes for older people may be reluctant to admit people living with a learning disability and dementia, due to uncertainty as to how to meet their needs’.

People with learning disabilities face higher risk of dementia at earlier age

Age-related dementia is more common at earlier ages in people living with a learning disability than in the rest of the population, according to the HIS. About 13 per cent of people aged 60-65-years-old who have learning disabilities, also have dementia - this is compared with one per cent in the general population.

At least 30 per cent of people living with Down’s syndrome who are in their 50s, may experience dementia, and half experience it in their 60s.

Kevin Stewart, Scottish Government’s Minister for Social Care, said: “We understand how challenging it can be for people with a learning disability and a diagnosis of dementia to change their living arrangements and this new guidance will not only improve the services people receive, but will give staff improved information to support them to continue to deliver exceptional care across the country."

The guidance has been created for the benefit of people with a learning disability and advancing dementia who are moving to a care home because their needs can no longer be met in their own home.

'Help staff in the care home understand my story'

The HIS stated: ‘We spoke to people with learning disabilities and dementia as part of the creation of the guidance. One individual said: “It’s an environment I don’t know about. It’s scary.”

‘While another commented: “It is important to help staff in the care home understand my story and get to know me”.’

Professor Karen Watchman, international expert in learning disabilities and dementia and senior lecturer in ageing and dementia at the University of Stirling, said: “People with a learning disability are now living for longer and are more likely to develop illnesses like dementia.

“We hope the new guidance will ensure that any person with a learning disability and dementia will be at the centre of any decision making and their physical needs are met. Moreover, that staff who support will have the appropriate knowledge, skills and training.”

Laura Porter, interim service manager for learning disability at Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership said: “The need to move to a care home can be difficult for people with learning disabilities.

"Families and carers find it difficult to cope with increasing needs, and the person’s confusion and loss of skills. I hope the guidance will be something that can be passed to families and to care home staff, to reassure them that if they accept a placement for someone with learning disabilities, there will be support available.”

Scotland's minister for Social Care added: “Scotland has a track record in supporting people living with dementia, as shown by our world leading commitment to provide immediate support in the first year after people receive a diagnosis and our National Conversation events to give those living with dementia, their families and carers the opportunity to shape the help available.”

You can read the My New Home guidance by clicking here