Managing health changes for people with a learning disability in a residential care home setting.

BACKGROUND: People with learning disability (LD) have complex comorbidities that develop at an earlier age than the general population and with which they are now living longer. Identification, assessment and management of these conditions is important but challenging.

AIM: To develop resources with care staff to enable them to recognise and manage changes and decline in the health of a person with a LD.

METHODS: Two resources (PIP-LD and CIRC) were developed through undertaking a literature review; networking with experts; and collaborating with staff in the care homes for people with a LD. Care staff then used these resourcesto review their residents.

FINDINGS: The PIP-LD and CIRC were used in 39 care homes. The PIP-LD empowered staff to meet people's immediate health needs, and the CIRC helped them to recognise changes or a decline.

CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of the PIP-LD and the CIRC enabled care staff to recognise the signs and symptoms of each person's comorbidities early, and to identify and manage changes when their health declined.