ABSTRACT
Challenges exist in respect of people with intellectual disabilities who, with the increasing life expectancy, have a growing risk of age-related degenerative conditions. Changes in bone health are associated with increasing age and the bone health of people who have intellectual disabilities is well documented in the literature as being poor in comparison to the general population. A heel scan clinic was set up in an intellectual disability service as a service improvement initiative. There were 12 females and 17 males scanned using a heel scanner. Only 3 (10.3%) people with intellectual disabilities were in the normal bone mineral density (BMD) range. Peripheral BMD screening for people has been shown to provide important information about the bone health of people with intellectual disabilities which has prompted further treatment by general practitioners and has the potential to provide an accessible way to obtain information on the bone health of people with intellectual disabilities.
Subject(s)
Intellectual Disability , Learning Disabilities , Bone Density , Female , Humans , Intellectual Disability/epidemiology , Male , Outcome Assessment, Health CareABSTRACT
Frailty is a common clinical syndrome that predisposes older adults to an increased risk of adverse health outcomes. With population aging, this will become an increasing challenge for the healthcare services; therefore, different models of healthcare training and provision are required to address these increasing demands. In Ireland, the National Clinical Programme for Older People (NCPOP) has partnered with The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) to deliver the National Frailty Education Programme. This demonstrates an innovative way in which evidence-based longitudinal research can be translated into clinical education and practice to improve patient care, following a Knowledge to Action (KTA) process. To the authors' knowledge, it is the first time that a longitudinal research study such as TILDA has employed such methods of translation and therefore, this collaboration could serve as an international model of translation and implementation for frailty and other areas of clinical priority.
Subject(s)
Frailty , Aged , Aging , Delivery of Health Care , Humans , Ireland/epidemiology , Longitudinal StudiesABSTRACT
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study has aimed to examine key stakeholders' perspectives, views and experiences regarding transfer documents, used when an older person is being transferred from a residential to an acute care setting. The objective of the study was to inform, in part, the development of an effective national transfer document. BACKGROUND: For the effective and safe transfer of older persons from residential to acute care settings, it is important to ensure that the transfer document encapsulates relevant, current and person-centred information to ensure a smooth, quality and safe transition. Evidence highlights that, where documentation has lacked vital and relevant information, the older persons experience negative impacts during the transfer process. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted, following the COREQ checklist, to establish participants' perspectives, views and experiences of using transfer documents. METHODS: Focus group interviews (n = 8) were conducted with a convenience sample of key stakeholders (n = 68) in an Irish setting. The data were analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: The findings have highlighted the important aspects for consideration in the development of future transfer documentation. The three broad categories, used to present the data findings, are (a) existing transfer documentation; (b) design framework; and (c) essentials of care. CONCLUSIONS: The transfer document of the future is required to be concise, regularly reviewed and with a user-friendly colour-coded design. Essential and current information, with an emphasis on person centeredness, must be in the first page, with more detailed supporting information in the subsequent sections.
