Improving health and quality of life for people with learning disabilities

I have been a learning disability nurse for 32 years and I am passionate about learning disability nursing and improving the health and quality of lives for people with a learning disability.

As 2021 was coming to an end, I had the opportunity to make some changes in my professional life so I seized it. I knew I wanted a job where I could have a lot more direct contact with people with a learning disability and to be more physically active so I decided to retire but return part time to my post with my local NHS community team and have taken a new role with Shared Lives, a scheme offered by the local authority, and I am now a carer offering day care to people with learning disabilities, working from home. 

While no two days are the same in this role, here’s what two typical days can look like.

Day one

Ann, my allocated Shared Lives worker, visits me at home for my bi-monthly monitoring and supervision session. In these meetings we go over my wellbeing and training record, and check over patient assessments.

Currently I am supporting a client called Elaine* who is 40 years old. She has an infectious enthusiasm for everything we do - with no shortage of energy, strong mindedness, humour and thoughtfulness. Elaine arrives at my home and she shows Ann our daily diary with photos reminding us of everything we’ve been doing together.

When Ann leaves, we head out to the local open-air museum. Elaine is enthusiastic and wants to look at the inside of buildings, although does not like the look of the outside privvy! We have a lovely lunch in the café and Elaine is thrilled to see horses, sheep, geese and hens.

Back at my house we have a quick drink followed by some gardening - we’ve been growing lots of flowers and vegetables and Elaine is thrilled to see how much things have progressed.

I have noticed Elaine using some Makaton signs today so we practice some signing together. We also do some finger spelling – our names and other people’s names.

Day two

Elaine and I walk to the local park which has a lovely arboretum. Elaine loves being in nature and loves to look at and identify plants, trees and insects. I practice and teach mindfulness to people with a learning disability, so today when we are in nature we stop and listen to the noises around us, notice any smells and pay attention to details we might otherwise be too busy to notice.

After running into people we know from the local residential home and day centre and having a quick catch-up, we visit the charity shops to browse for two of Elaine’s passions – CD’s and jigsaws. Then it’s time for the bus home.

Getting the bus is significant as Elaine told me when I first met her she did not like using the bus. It was only when she noticed the small local bus that stops outside my house that we talked about using it, and she decided she would give it a try – and now she loves it. Helping to give independence and freedom to people with learning disabilities is why I love this role so much.

We spend the rest of the day picking flowers from the garden to use to make pictures, and looking at money together to get a clear picture of Elaine’s money and numeracy skills.

I am really enjoying working in social care. I enjoy the autonomy I have deciding when and how I work and being more physically active. Although I am not employed as a nurse, I am constantly drawing on my nursing skills and I enjoy being able to offer choice, opportunities and experiences that improve the quality of life and health and wellbeing for people with learning disabilities. I use my nursing skills to notice things like the communication strengths of those I am working with and adapting my communication accordingly to better support and empower people with learning disabilities.

*names have been changed to protect identities.