Dementia
People who have a learning disability are living longer which is a good thing.
This does mean they may be more likely to suffer from dementia (like everyone else) as they get older.
Dementia is a disease affecting the brain which gets worse over a period of time.
As the condition develops it sees a change in personality and ability to do everyday tasks.
Dementia is a problem for people who have a learning disability especially those with Downs Syndrome who seem to be more at risk of having dementia than others.
This does not mean everyone will have dementia but it is more likely.
People do not recover from dementia once you have dementia it is for the rest of your life.
However there are things that will help people cope better when they have dementia, some of these are highlighted on this page.
The Government is holding a consultation about the future of dementia services. Click here to access an easy to read version of the consultation
For a checklist on the Early Signs of Dementia click here - you may want to see the Potential Causes of loss of skill or abilities, which may help you and others make a decision about the cause.
The links below contain information about learning disability and dementia.
Click on this link for the Key Features of Dementia
Click on this link for Supporting people with a Learning Disability and Dementia
Click on this link for information about Environmental Issues and Dementia (Environment means where you live, and your furniture and fittings)
To read more information about Dementia from the Mental Health Foundation click here
The Social Care Institute for Excellence have introduced some e-learning resources regarding older people and mental health. Although these are not specifically about learning disability some people may find them helpful. To follow a link to these click here