Improving the quality of life for people with learning disabilities, as they grow older: A Challenge for Providers
This is the first Real Change Challenge from the Association for Real Change. The initial draft of the Real Change Challenge on Older People was officially launched on Thursday 10th January 2013 at the Department of Health in London at a strategic stakeholders event, chaired by Dame Philippa Russell.
The Association for Real Change have launched the final draft of the challenge at the joint ‘Growing Older, Living Better?’ event, held with the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities (FPLD), in London on 24 March 2014. Also launched at the event is the EvaluationToolkit for providers developed in partnership with the FPLD, and designed to help providers meet the outcomes laid out in the challenge. You can download a copy of the toolkit here.
Dame Philippa Russell once again chaired the event which included discussions, an information and training session, feedback from providers who have piloted the toolkit and a presentation by the author of the Challenge, Cally Ward.
A review of the event can be seen here.
The Challenge facing providers
Older people with learning disabilities are a growing and diverse group. The number of people with learning disabilities over 60 will increase by nearly 40% between 2001 and 2021. By 2030 the number of adults 70+ using social care services for people with learning disabilities will more than double.
The aim of this challenge is to identify what learning disability providers must do to meet the challenge of improving the quality of life for people who have a learning disability as they grow older.