Volume 19, Issue 4 pp. 469-475

A palliative care resource for professional carers of people with learning disabilities

Professional carers of people with learning disabilities should have information on palliative care, in a format that they can relate to, to enable them to care for a resident who has a life-threatening illness in the home environment

C. REDDALL rgn bsc ( hons ) macmillan nurse for care homes

C. REDDALL rgn bsc ( hons ) macmillan nurse for care homes

Myton Hospice, Warwick, UK

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First published: 15 June 2010
Citations: 5
Christine Reddall, 182, Cubbington Road, Leamington spa, Warwickshire, CV32 7AJ, UK (e-mail: [email protected]).

The information booklet won a first prize in the Mid tech innovations competition in August 2006.
Since writing this article, the author has had a book published by Radcliffe entitled “Palliative Care for Care Homes: A Practical Handbook”. ISBN:9781846192487.

Abstract

REDDALL C. (2010) European Journal of Cancer Care
A palliative care resource for professional carers of people with learning disabilities

People with learning disabilities who have a life-threatening illness, are as entitled as other members of the population to receive good palliative care in their home of choice. However, professional carers of people with learning disability are generally unaware of the meaning of palliative care, and how they can access palliative care support. More importantly, they may feel they are not capable of caring for a resident with a life-threatening illness in the home environment. This article uses a case study to help illustrate the value of compiling a resource booklet for professional carers of people with learning disabilities. By providing information on palliative care, that is easy to understand and easily accessible, professional carers of these people can have a valuable resource which will enable them to provide general palliative care when needed. (I use the term professional carers to refer to carers who are paid to look after people with learning disabilities either in care homes, or in supported living homes in the general community.)

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.