It is a sad reality, in Australia, a person with intellectual disability dies 20 to 32 years earlier than those without this disability. Most health professionals require more training if we are to develop the knowledge and skills needed to provide better health care to people with a disability.
Health courses at university have not taught students enough about the health needs of people with intellectual disabilities. This is starting to change but a lot more work is needed to equip health professionals with the skills they need to assess the impact of their disability on their capacity to look after their health.
To bridge the gap, EdHealth supports health professionals to further their understanding of healthcare delivery to people with a disability. We link you to quality information and resources and hope you will use them to deliver better healthcare to your patients with a disability.
EDHEALTH DIABETES 4 DISABILITY SERVICES
People with a disability often need extra help to be able to put the recommendations of their health professionals into action. When that person has diabetes, there is a lot of information they will need as well as the skills to be able to understand and put the recommendations into action.
EdHealth's focus is the needs of people with a disability and diabetes. We understand the impact a disability can have, especially if that disability affects the person's cognitive capacity. If they develop diabetes, they are going to require services that build their capacity to be able to learn about and care for
their capacity to be able to learn about and care for their diabetes. It is also likely their circle of support will also require some training if they are to be able to provide the supports they need to eat a healthy diet, get regular exercise and manage their health.
Once medication is prescribed for their diabetes, they will also require support to be able to take that as well, attend appointments with their health professionals and turn up for health screenings linked with their diabetes.
Click! to find out about the Diabetes 4 Disability Services.
NATIONAL ROADMAP FOR IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
The Australian Government is addressing the health needs of people with intellectual disability, as outlined in the National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability. EdHealth's Director, Jayne Lehmann, has been actively involved in many of the projects being implemented as a part of fulfilling the Roadmap's commitments. She is a member of the Roadmap Implementation Governance Group (RIGG)
Click! for the Oral Health Priority Actions - Recommendations
NATIONAL CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY HEALTH
A key commitment outlined in the National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability, is the establishment and funding of a National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health. The national centre will bring together experts, resources, and research on intellectual disability healthcare.
We are awaiting the outcome of a competitive tender to establish and run the Centre.
Resources CHAP tool
The Comprehensive Health Assessment Plan (CHAP) tool was designed to guide doctors and their patients with intellectual disability using a systematic approach to their annual health check-up. This evidence based approach includes a section for the person with an intellectual disability, with the help of their circle of support, to fill-in and take to their Annual health check-up appointment. During the appointment, their general practitioner will use the tool to guide them through their assessment of the person's general health. Using the CHAP tool is another step in Australia's strengthening of healthcare for people with intellectual disability. It helps the doctor to gather more information from the person's circle of support, do preventive health checks and consider the person's health comprehensively.
Diabetes and Emotional Health
A handbook and resources have been produced to support health professionals to better understand the emotional impact of having diabetes. While not designed to address the specific needs of people with intellectual disability, it is an excellent resource that informs and encourages health professionals to delve into this important and often unexplored area with mental health in people with diabetes. It is just as relevant for people with intellectual disabilities and may give some insight into the potential behaviour triggers a person may be experiencing.
Click! to go to the Diabetes and Emotional Health Handbook and resources
NDSS Diabetes and Intellectual Disability
EdHealth's Director, Jayne Lehmann was integral to the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) Intellectual Disability and Diabetes project, having lobbied for resources to be developed for years.
As an Advisory Board member and consultant on the project, Jayne was actively involved in the development of resources for Health professionals and people with intellectual disability. The capacity of health professionals to better support people with intellectual disability and diabetes will increase when you use these resources. The case studies, based on real people and situations, are included throughout the course for an authentic learning experience.
FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Click! to read the "Effective Communication with People who have an Intellectual Disability Disorder about their Diabetes," on the NDSS learning portal. Why not download it as well while you are there?
Click! to register where you can register to do the: 'Tailor your Communication Skills: A training module for health professionals caring for adults with an intellectual disability'. This online course is free and designed to teach health professionals how to respond appropriately to the health care challenges and needs of individuals with diabetes and an intellectual disability, particularly in communicating health care information. All health professionals will find this of interest and the knowledge and skills developed will increase their capacity to work with people with a disability.
TO USE WITH PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
Click! to hear Jayne, introduce the resources created for people with intellectual disability to use to learn more about, and better care for, their diabetes.
There are a number of low literacy resources designed for people with intellectual disability. Find out more about them, so you can use them when you see people with diabetes and an intellectual or other cognitive disability. They are helpful in a consultation and even includes resources to help them to make the most of their appointments with health professionals.
On the same page there are links to the resources:
- Five short videos on topics related to diabetes
- Handouts on "Choosing Healthy Foods" and "Health professionals you may see for your diabetes".
- Diabetes Visit Cards (before, during and after), and instructions on their use.
- How can you use the resources to work better with people with intellectual disability.
Have a patient you think we could help?
EdHealth works with NDIS participants and their health and disability teams, to address the disability side of their diabetes support. Until the NDIS was introduced, it was challenging to address the additional support a person with a disability needs with their healthcare comprehensively. The NDIS can now fund services to help them to counteract the impact of their disability to build their capacity to look after their health.
Why not tell the circle of support of patients you see with a disability about our service, if they have diabetes? We work in partnership with health professionals to put a process in place for them to be able to do the things they can't due to the impact of their disability. That's how we can support people with a disability to get their diabetes on track to good health.
CONTACT DETAILS:
We can give you some more information about the D4D Diabetes Management Plans or arrange a quote for the delivery of a D4D solution for your client's diabetes support.
Contact us and fill in the form. An EdHealth team member will be in contact.
Email: admin1@edhealth.com.au Phone: 0412 102 048