Nurses' views about services for older people with learning disabilities.
OBJECTIVE
To explore nurses' views of the strengths and weaknesses of current patterns of service provision for older people with learning disabilities in relation to three service models and parent/carer needs.


METHODS
Focus groups were held with mental health nurses, practice nurses and nurses specialising in the care of people with a learning disability, and an interview was held with a district nurse.


RESULTS
Some services may not be prepared for this client group, nor in some cases be appropriate for it, and there appears to be little specialist provision or use made of mental health services.


CONCLUSIONS
Specialist services and/or teams should be developed to address the complex needs of older people with learning disabilities, particularly those who develop dementia.
Faculty of Health, Sport and Science, University of Glamorgan.
Robert
R
Jenkins
D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017144:Focus Groups; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000451:nursing*; D016294:Models, Nursing; D017146:Models, Organizational; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D013041:Specialties, Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom