Nurses experience of caring for people with intellectual disability and dementia
Josephine Cleary
Brothers of Charity
Josephine Cleary is a Registered Intellectual Disability Nurse. Since qualifying from St Joseph's in Clonsilla she has worked with the Brothers of Charity Limerick services as a Staff Nurse, Clinical Nurse Manager and since 2006 she works as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Behaviour Support and she has a special interest in the care of the older person. In 2007 she completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Disability Nursing, Aging-related Care at Dublin City University, and in 2015 she completed a Masters in Nursing, Dementia-Care at the University of Limerick. Her caseload is comprised mainly of aging individuals with intellectual disabilities who require behavioural interventions, many of whom have dementia. She collaborates with staff and multidisciplinary team members to provide a person-centred approach to care and advises and supports staff and families regarding behaviours shown, the progression and course of dementia and care at end of life.
Abstract
Background. Aging and dementia prevalence has and is increasing along with the life expectancy of people with intellectual disability. As a population group people with intellectual disability have a high prevalence of... [ view full abstract ]
Background. Aging and dementia prevalence has and is increasing along with the life expectancy of people with intellectual disability. As a population group people with intellectual disability have a high prevalence of dementia which is higher within the sub-population of Downs Syndrome. People with intellectual disability live in residential care, community or residential settings and nurses are required to adapt their practices to meet the changed needs of the individual.
Aim and objectives. To explore the experiences of nurses caring for the older person with intellectual disability and dementia.
Methods. A qualitative Husserl descriptive phenomenological approach allowed the researcher become immersed in the essence of meaning and analyse how nurses working with the older person with dementia perceive, experience and express their experience. After ethical approval was granted, data were collected through semi-structured interviews from eleven participants and were transcribed and analysed thematically using Colizzi’s framework for data analysis.
Findings. Participants’ experience varied from ten to thirty five years working with people with intellectual disability and from three to seven years working with people with dementia. The findings reflect the participants’ experiences of caring for adults with intellectual disability from early signs and symptoms of dementia to end-of-life care.Three key themes were identified: ‘knowledge of dementia’,’ person-centred care’ and ‘transitioning within the service’. ‘The study highlights the need for proactive planning, life story books and funding to support client and staff.
Conclusions. Overall, the study highlights the importance of knowing the person, supporting the individual and recognising presenting behaviours as outside the control of the individual.
Implications. This study reports on the findings of a study which explored the experiences of caring for the older person with intellectual disability. Teamwork, proactive planning, client-centred approach and supporting clients living at home are important as ageing is inevitable. Individuals can experience distress on transferring due to their difficulty coping in unfamiliar surroundings and new staff, who in turn have difficulty supporting individuals because they did not know them.
Authors
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Josephine Cleary
(Brothers of Charity)
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Owen Doody
(University of Limerick)
Topic Area
Topics: Intellectual Disability
Session
ID1 » Intellectual Disability 1 (10:30 - Thursday, 10th November, Lecture Theatre 2.57)
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