Barriers to accessing health care services - learning disabilities
Individuals with learning disabilities may need support to carry out certain day-to-day tasks, and that can include accessing health care services and attending appointments.
Consider that common areas which learning disabilities can affect are communication skills and the ability to understand information, and it becomes clear why accessing medical care and wellbeing support can be challenging for those with a learning disability, autism or acquired brain injury.
Add into the mix the logistical challenges which may be associated with attending an appointment in person (in terms of mobility, transport etc.), and it would be accurate to say that there can be a number of barriers to accessing health care services for those with learning disabilities.
The good news is that, with the right learning disability care in place, the individual’s support team will be able to understand how to work around some of these barriers to improve access.
Care for learning disabilities is person-centred, meaning that it is tailored to individual needs and requirements. The individual’s support team can work with them to look at and implement different methods of accessing and understanding information (for example easy-read documents), supporting them to attend appointments, and working with them to ensure they are able to access the health care services and wellbeing support that they need.
Support for people with learning disabilities, autism or acquired brain injury
Our Realise team are experts in providing individually-tailored care and positive behaviour support for people with learning disabilities, autism or acquired brain injury. Find out more about the Realise team, and the empowering, person-centred support they provide.
