Skip to content
Skip to main content

About this free course

Download this course

Share this free course

Caring for an older family member with learning disabilities
Caring for an older family member with learning disabilities

Start this free course now. Just create an account and sign in. Enrol and complete the course for a free statement of participation or digital badge if available.

2 Thinking about Becky’s future care

You’ll now hear from Becky’s mum (Sharon) talking about Becky’s future and future care.

Activity 2 What next for Becky?

Timing: Allow 15 minutes

Now listen to Sharon reflecting on Becky’s future care. As you listen make a note of the points she makes that you think could be useful in your own situation given the concerns you identified in Session 1. You can write these in your ‘Tips’ notepad or in the text box below.

Download this audio clip.Audio player: gopa_2_mary_larkin_extract_2.mp3
Copy this transcript to the clipboard
Print this transcript
Show transcript | Hide transcript
 
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).
To use this interactive functionality a free OU account is required. Sign in or register.
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).

Comment

Your ‘Tips’ list might have included something about the importance of forward planning; Sharon talks about needing to start planning two or three years in advance so Becky can get used to her new home and get to know her staff. She also emphasises the importance of having an emergency care plan which uses the respite care setting with which Becky is already familiar. You may want to add planning for emergencies and the future to your ‘Tips’.

As Sharon and her husband think Becky is well supported by her current care provider they hope she can move into a new home supported by them. Exploring options for future care with an existing and trusted provider known to the family who can provide continuity in care is perhaps another ‘Tip’.

Activity 3 Information and resources to help you plan ahead

Timing: Allow 30 minutes

There are some resources that you can use to help you with planning ahead. An example of checklist which will help is: Planning for the future checklist for families [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] . During our research we worked alongside people with learning disabilities and family members to produce a set of practical ‘planning ahead cards’ to prompt and support conversations with people with learning disabilities who are getting older.

Watch the following video that explains how to use the cards: How to use the planning ahead cards for people with learning disabilities

Now spend a few minutes reviewing the cards:

Finally, make some notes in your ‘Tips’ about how you might use these cards to facilitate your planning ahead. Are there particular cards that you think would be particularly useful?

To use this interactive functionality a free OU account is required. Sign in or register.
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).