Main description:

Learning Disabilities is an accessible introductory textbook that will help to improve the quality of care provided to people with learning disabilities. It is aimed primarily at nursing and healthcare students who are not in the learning disabilities field of practice but are seeking to understand learning disability and become rounded practitioners.

Through clear explanations, examples and activities, the book will help you to recognise, support and care for people with learning disabilities whenever you meet them in your practice. You will learn:

What learning disability is and how it interacts with physical and mental health
What the role of the nurse or carer is and how to care for and provide support to people with learning disabilities
About legal issues around learning disability including discrimination, capacity and consent
How to support people with a learning disability who are experiencing ageing and suffering bereavement
About spirituality and sexuality in relation to people with a learning disability
How to support the informal unpaid caregivers who provide daily care to a person with a learning disability, and how to recognise and utilise their experience and knowledge.

Written by a highly experienced author, academic and caregiver, this book will help you to improve your understanding of learning disability and to provide the high quality care to which people with learning disabilities are entitled.

Contents:

Foreword; Preface; Acknowledgements; About the author

Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1 Who is this book for?

1.2 A brief overview of the book

Chapter 2 What is learning disability?

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Definition

2.3 Basic history

2.4 What it means to have a learning disability

2.5 Conclusion

Chapter 3 Nursing support for those with profound and multiple learning disabilities

3.1 Introduction

3.2 What is PMLD?

3.3 Twelve activities of daily living

3.4 Conclusion

Chapter 4 Learning disability legislation and reports

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Differences between Bills, Acts, White Papers, Green Papers and reports

4.3 Key documents relating to learning disabilities

4.4 Suggestions for further research

4.5 Conclusion

Chapter 5 Medical care and support for those with a learning disability

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Healthcare needs of those with a learning disability

5.3 Roles of the nurse

5.4 Professional development opportunities

5.5 Conclusion

Chapter 6 Learning disability and consent to treatment

6.1 Introduction

6.2 What is consent?

6.3 Forms of consent

6.4 Mental Capacity Act 2005

6.5 Assessing mental capacity

6.6 The role of the nurse

6.7 Conclusion

Chapter 7 Learning disability and mental health

7.1 Introduction

7.2 What is mental health?

7.3 Forms of mental ill-health

7.4 Prevalence

7.5 The role of the nurse

7.6 Conclusion

Chapter 8 Learning disability and forensic care

8.1 Introduction

8.2 What are forensic services?

8.3 Prevalence

8.4 A journey through forensic services

8.5 The role of the nurse

8.6 Conclusion

Chapter 9 Sexuality and people with a learning disability

9.1 Introduction

9.2 What is sexuality?

9.3 Issues regarding sexuality and those with a learning disability

9.4 The law

9.5 Issues around consent

9.6 The role of the nurse

9.7 Conclusion

Chapter 10 Ageing and those with a learning disability

10.1 Introduction

10.2 What is old age?

10.3 Normal ageing

10.4 Common medical conditions

10.5 Dementia

10.6 The role of the nurse

10.7 Conclusion

Chapter 11 Dying, death and bereavement and people with a learning disability

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Dying

11.3 Death

11.4 Do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR)

11.5 Bereavement

11.6 The role of the nurse

11.7 Conclusion

Chapter 12 Care and support for those who are informal caregivers

12.1 Introduction

12.2 What is 'informal caregiving'?

12.3 Experiences of those who are caregivers

12.4 Caregiver legislation and strategy

12.5 The roles of the nurse

12.6 Conclusion

Chapter 13 Disability and carer discrimination

13.1 Introduction

13.2 What is discrimination?

13.3 Anti-discrimination legislation

13.4 Experiences of those who have a learning disability

13.5 The roles of the nurse

13.6 Conclusion

Chapter 14 Learning disability and spirituality

14.1 Introduction

14.2 What is spirituality?

14.3 Barriers to experiencing and practising spirituality

14.4 Spiritual resources

14.5 The role of the nurse

14.6 Conclusion

Chapter 15 The future and learning disability

15.1 Introduction

15.2 Past

15.3 Present

15.4 Future

15.5 Conclusion

Glossary; Resources; Index