LIVING WELL WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY, FOR ALL OF LIFE

At Prestige Nursing & Care we believe that everyone living with a learning disability can lead a happy, fulfilled and healthy life with the right support in place, tailored to their individual needs.

As an established provider we have been supporting individuals living with a learning disability to have an improved quality of life in their own homes and communities for over 75 years. We have been trusted by families up and down the country to provide care for all of life, evolving the level and type of care we provide to meet changing needs.

YOUR HOME IS BEST FOR LEARNING DISABILITY CARE AND SUPPORT

For many living with a learning disability the last place they would wish to receive care and support to develop and remain independent would be in a specialist care setting, whether on a temporary or permanent basis.   This unsettling thought can cause anxiety, depression and other mental health problems for those living with a learning disability.

Receiving the one-to-one care and support you need in the familiar surroundings of your own home, with your established routines can significantly improve your quality of life and enhance your well-being.  Care at home enables you to remain independent and live your life with choice, whilst supporting you to successfully meet development milestones and for children and young people, educational achievements.

WHAT IS A LEARNING DISABILITY?

A learning disability refers to a reduction in a person’s intellectual ability, which means learning new skills, engaging with people or understanding complex information can be challenging without specialist support.  Many people living with a learning disability have a reduced ability to cope independently and many disabilities start before adulthood, impacting a person’s development of age-appropriate self-help skills and/or adaptive behaviour.

Learning disabilities vary in their affects; some people with a learning disability can have a job and live independently, while others may have a severe intellectual impairment and need24-hour care and support.  Some people living with learning disabilities will also be living with a physical disability and others are impacted by mental health and well-being concerns due to their disability.

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OUR APPROACH TO PERSONALISED LEARNING DISABILITY CARE AT HOME

At Prestige Nursing & Care we provide a care and support package that helps you live a happy and fulfilled life in the safety and comfort of your own home.  The support we provide will be guided by you and tailored to your needs, giving you choice over how you live your life and the support you want.  Our focus is for you to have as much enjoyment in life and our carer will support you to enjoy all the activities and socialisation you wish. We will actively encourage you to learn new skills and engage in new hobbies to make life stimulating and meaningful.

We work collaboratively with our clients and their families to develop a thorough care and support plan that accurately reflects each person’s needs.  We also adopt a partnership approach to working with local authorities, NHS services, multidisciplinary teams, therapists and other community bodies involved in a person’s care.  This means we are well-informed so we can:

  • Provide continuity of care
  • Ensure the right care is in place at the right time
  • Respond efficiently to changing needs
  • Strengthen care provision when required.

Our approach to learning disability home care aims to establish positive behaviour patterns to minimise challenging behaviours and equip those we care for with the skills to manage their own behaviours.  Carers who are supporting someone with a learning disability complete our accredited MAPA training programme which uses an approved means of re-direction and physical intervention to manage challenging situations.

LEARNING DISABILITIES WE SUPPORT

We can support people living with a diverse range of learning disabilities including, but not limited to:

  • Down’s syndrome
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
  • Asperger’s syndrome
  • Willian’s syndrome
  • Fragile X syndrome
  • Global development delay
  • Challenging behaviour
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DOWN’S SYNDROME CARE

Down’s syndrome is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome in a baby’s cells and occurs at the time of conception.  In most cases down’s syndrome is not inherited.  There are approximately 40,000 people living with down’s syndrome in the UK.

Home care for special needs adults promotes independence, removes barriers that reduce choice and aids socialisation for people living with down’s syndrome.

AUTISM CARE

Autism is a neurological disability that is a lifelong condition affecting how people interact with the world, process information and understand other people’s feelings.  People with autism also experience different levels of sensitivity to factors such as sound, lights and smell. One in 100 people are on the autism spectrum and in the UK, there are around 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.

Home care enables a person with Autism to maintain positive relationships, fosters confidence in social situations and provides a consistent structure and routines, whilst providing an opportunity for family members to have a respite from the caring role.

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Supporting Andrea to live independently with downs syndrome

Andrea is a 52-year-old lady who has downs syndrome and vascular dementia.

Supporting Andrea to live independently with downs syndrome

Andrea is a 52-year-old lady who has downs syndrome and vascular dementia.

Four years ago, Andrea’s mum, who was her primary carer, sadly died and Andrea was placed in living accommodation alongside other people living with similar learning disabilities.

This was a very upsetting time for Andrea and such a change in how she was cared for as she had only been cared for by her mother.  Very sadly Andrea was mistreated in her new accommodation which led to her sister appealing to the court of protection for an order for Andrea to live at home with her. A best interest decision was made, and Andrea now lives with her sister.

Prestige provides hourly care to Andrea six days a week for four hours a day to give Andrea’s next of kin some respite from her caring duties. The care team take responsibility of Andrea’s daily routines including her washing and dressing, her food and nutrition, her toileting, and her safety and well-being.

Andrea had not been outside of her sister’s home in over two years. The Prestige care team have been pivotal in helping Andrea rebuild her confidence.  Firstly, they spent time building a good rapport with Andrea so that she had confidence in them and started by engaging her to go into the garden, building the number of times a day they would go outside.  Over time this confidence built up with and Andrew now enjoys little walks around the block in her wheelchair. The care provided has also allowed for Andrea’s sister to have some much-needed respite so that she can catch up with her own life.

WHAT DOES OUR HOME CARE SERVICE INCLUDE FOR THOSE LIVING WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES?

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COMPETENT AND COMPASSIONATE CARERS

All our carers and nurses are trained by Mencap, the leading charity in the UK supporting those with learning difficulties and learning disabilities.  This means they have a strong understanding of the challenges you or your loved one faces and have the skills to deliver the type of care and support you need, whilst being adaptive to changing needs.

When you choose Prestige Nursing & Care you can be reassured that the carer who cares for you or your loved one is expertly trained to provide the support you need, to the high standards you should expect.  All carers that join us complete our induction training programme, which goes above mandatory requirements.

We adopt a bespoke approach to training that ensures our carers have the knowledge, skills and aptitude to deliver high-quality home care that meets the needs of our clients.  If a client is living with a learning disability we will make sure they are trained and supported to effectively provide the care you need.

We are very proud of our carers – each and every one of them is dedicated to providing compassionate, sensitive and dignified home care that means our clients live a fulfilled and meaningful life, with independence and choice, for all of life.

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AT PRESTIGE NURSING & CARE

Clinical excellence is at the heart of our culture and approach to service delivery at Prestige Nursing & Care. Our nurse-led home care service is monitored and supported by our experienced regional nursing teams. Our team of qualified regional nurses are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Each holds a registered nursing qualification in at least one nursing specialism, including general adult nursing, learning and disability nursing, mental health nursing and children’s nursing. They enable the planning and delivery of safe and effective complex care to our clients, that is focused on ensuring the best possible care experience for our clients and their families.

Our nurses work in partnership with our care co-ordinators, carers, clients and families to identify specific care needs and plan the most appropriate care provision, whilst ensuring all our carers have the skills they need to deliver high standards of nurse-led care. They also provide families with on-going advice and continual support to ensure they feel reassured about the service we provide.

HOW WE PROVIDE CARE AT HOME FOR THOSE WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY

Our trusted and established care at home service can be provided in the following ways for those living with a learning disability:

  • Hourly care – sometimes called visiting care – is for those who need care and support with daily living or clinical care at certain times during the day. Care at home can be provided from a 30 minute visit, to as many hours/visits throughout the day you require, one day or several days of the week depending on your care and support needs.  For those who have complex needs, hourly care can be provided over a 24-hour period.
  • Live-in care for when a permanent care arrangement is needed with greater levels of support around the clock to ensure a person can live well at home.  Through our family of leading home care brands in the UK, we are able to offer award-winning live-in care rated ‘Outstanding’ by The Care Quality Commission (CQC) from The Good Care Group.
  • Respite care for those needing a short-term arrangement after hospital discharge to rehabilitate or when a family carer needs a break from their caring role.  It is also an ideal service for families who wish to assess whether care at home is the right care choice for them.

Matching the right carers to meet henry’s learning disability needs

Henry is a 20-year-old living with learning disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder

Matching the right carers to meet henry’s learning disability needs

Henry is a 20-year-old living with learning disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), visual impairment and sensory integration disorder.

He needs 24/7 support with administration of medication, personal care and help with organisation. Henry’s team of two carers have built a good rapport with him, based on a true understanding of his needs and are dedicated to supporting his independence – he is able now to go out with our carer and not his parents, giving them a respite break too from their caring duties.

Henry’s carers were carefully selected they were close in age to him and shared similar interests. They both have undertaken learning disability and complex care training. Henry’s care package was assessed after the first six weeks and has regular follow ups.

The outcome for the entire family has been the ability to live a more normal life. Julie and her husband can now socialise with friends and take out Henry’s younger brother. This gives them all some much needed respite with the peace of mind that Henry’s needs are being met and he is very happy with his care team and care plan in place

Henry’s mum Julie said: “The carers are absolutely fabulous with Henry - very caring, empathetic, and understanding. Nothing is ever too much trouble. The carers take Henry out and help him with day-to-day tasks, such as cooking and managing his finances.”

CARE MANAGEMENT LOCAL TO YOU

Our responsive and reliable learning disabilities home care service means we can put local care and support in place quickly, often within 24-hours. Our local care expert will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your needs at home, in hospital or in any specialist care setting if you are awaiting discharge back to your own home. If you have complex needs and need nurse-led care, our expert registered nurse will complete the assessment enabling a plan of care and support to be developed that meets all your needs.

Our approach to care planning ensures we capture all your preferences and wishes so you can live a contented life in the comfort of your own home.  We take time to find the carer that would best meet your care and support needs, making sure they are closely aligned with how you wish to live your life. Once care is in place, our local teams made up of care and clinical experts provide you, your family and our carer with an abundance of on-going support, giving you peace of mind that you or your loved one is receiving the very best home care.

Our approach to care planning, whether it is for a respite service or a permanent arrangement ensures we capture all your preferences and wishes so you can live a contented life in the comfort of your own home.  We take time to find the carer that would best meet your care and support needs, making sure they are closely aligned with how you wish to live your life. Once care is in place, our local teams made up of care and clinical experts provide you, your family and our carer with an abundance of on-going support, giving you reassurance that you or your loved one is receiving the very best care at home.

QUALITY ASSURANCE THROUGH REGULATED SERVICE PROVISION

Prestige Nursing & Care is not an agency.  Unlike a home care agency, we provide a fully managed and regulated care at home service, which means our clients, their families and our professional partners can be reassured that the care and support we provide those living with a learning disability is of the very highest quality.

Our service is inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England and the Scottish Care Inspectorate (SCI) in Scotland.  We are proud that 96% of our inspected services have been rated as providing a ‘Good’ service, with 4% rated ‘Outstanding’ and our services in Scotland have been awarded a five-star rating.

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COST OF LEARNING DISABILITY CARE

The cost of learning disability care is dependent on the level of care and support you require.  If you are receiving our hourly learning disability care the overall cost will be determined by the number of visits and frequency of visits to you at home. Our experts will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your needs at your home, or in hospital if you are awaiting discharge to truly understand what you need and therefore how much learning disability care at home will cost.

We know that our cost of our professional learning disability care is very competitive when compared with other home care providers.  It is worth noting that when comparing the cost of home care with a care package in a care home, that the fee you pay for home care is actually for the care and support you receive.  In a care home your weekly fee mainly covers your accommodation, food and social activities with the care package being only a small part of what you pay.

You may be entitled to either healthcare funding, social care funding or Government funding to contribute to the cost of learning disability home care.  If you are faced with having to finance your own home care (known as self-funding care), there are initiatives available to you, including care fees annuities or equity release schemes that could provide the funds you need for your care and support

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RESPONSIVE LOCAL TEAMS WITH NATIONWIDE COVERAGE

We provide care and support to those living with learning disabilities in over 30 locations in the heart of communities across England and Scotland.  The fully managed service we provide is highly responsive and our local experts can put care packages in place quickly. We work in collaboration with local healthcare professionals, multidisciplinary teams, therapeutic care providers and other community support services.  This holistic approach ensures our clients get the best out of life, for all of life.

To get started, simply fill out our call back form or call us on 0808 239 1525. A member of our friendly care team will come out to you to create a no-obligation care needs assessment. This plan will include all the details of what you and your loved ones need to stay independent at home.

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Find out why our clients choose Prestige Nursing & Care for a high quality, responsive home care service.

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USEFUL RESOURCES

There are several organisations and charities that support those who are living with learning disabilities, including The Down’s Syndrome Association, the National Autistic Society, and Mencap.

We are here to take your call and will provide impartial support and guidance – contact our friendly care experts today to discuss your learning disability care and support needs.


0808 239 1525