- Increase in issues like UTI’s as this could indicate that their immune system is beginning to not work as well and could be the beginning of organ failure
- Deterioration of eyesight/hearing because of the impact of ageing on sensory organs
- Loss of memory due to the potential onset of dementia
- Skin lesions/bruising due to the deterioration of skin and underlying tissue due to ageing
- Loss of appetite, changes to diet/poor diet
- Difficulties eating and drinking
- Swallowing difficulties (Dysphagia)
- changes in menstrual cycle
- Menopause
- Prostate – changes in continence, toilet habits
- Multiply long-term health conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, cardio, respiratory
- Muscle Atrophy
- Frequent/Reoccurring infections
- Frequent/reoccurring hospital admissions
- Changes in recall of events
- changes in health that may indicate a CHC checklist needs completing
- Have they developed problems with their dental health?
FRAILTY - “Frailty in people with LD is a presentation of complex health needs, with life limiting reduction in functional ability, such as dysphagia, weight loss, frequent infections, reducing heart and lung function, pain, reducing mobility, falls and behavioural issues etc. People with learning disabilities experience this at a much earlier age and if care is not coordinated appropriately, patients are at risk of deterioration in physical and mental well-being.” (Source - Essex Learning Disability Partnership 2021)
‘Frailty’ is a term that’s used a lot but is often misunderstood. When used properly, it refers to a person’s mental and physical resilience, or their ability to bounce back and recover from events like illness and injury.’(Source: Age UK 2020)
Possible Early Warning Signs
- Could be less engaged with others they live with and things that happen around them
- Changes in communication skills
- Could be less tolerant of other’s behaviours
- Might be doing less for themselves
- Might be losing everyday skills
- Less interest in going out
- Less interest in activities within their home
- Less interest in joining in social activities with others with a potential to become isolated
- Changes in behaviour
- Deterioration in personal hygiene
- Deterioration in self-care
- Is the person maintaining meaningful and consistent relationships with friends and family or is the person less engaged with others they live with and things that happen around them?
- Are they being stimulated through interests and hobbies or social activities, or have they lost interest?
- Has there been changes to the persons communication skills?
- Is the person less tolerant of other’s behaviours and less interested in doing things for themselves?
- Showing signs of confusion/depression/anxiety
- Decreasing or changing mobility due to loss of muscle tone and bone density
- For people with LD there might also be reluctance to or difficulty rehabilitating after a fall
- Has there been any changes/decline in the person’s physical activity?
- Do they appear to be sleeping more than normal (e.g. naps during the day)
- Have they lost interest in going out?
- are there any subtle changes to their mobility e.g., do they walk less or more slowly?
- Are they having increased falls?
Common Health Conditions, Diseases and Changes to Look Out For
- Common eye problems include cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Changes to vision including difficulty seeing in low light.
- Difficulty hearing higher pitched voices and sounds and hearing in busy places.
- Accumulation of earwax
- Changes in taste and smell
- Developing diabetic as you age can result in a sight loss.
- Digestion of food is more difficult, swallowing and digestive reflexes slow down so swallowing may therefore become difficult.
- Problems with reflux.
- Constipation
- Kidneys become less efficient.
- Diabetes and high blood pressure can cause damage to kidneys.
- Greater risk of kidney failure among people with learning difficulties.
- Urinary incontinence can be a symptom of hormone levels in women and enlarged prostate in men.
- Lower levels of physical activity and slowing metabolism may contribute to weight gain.
- Weight loss may occur as a result of swallowing difficulties or loss of appetite.
- This may be an indication of an underlying illness such as cancer.
- There is a greater risk of obesity among people with learning disabilities.
- Bones shrink in size and density and are more prone to fractures and osteoporosis.
- Muscles, tendons and joints may lose strength and flexibility.
- Poorer balance leading to an increased risk of falls.
- Skin becomes dryer and more brittle.
- Lower level of sweating results in greater susceptibility to heat stroke and exhaustion.
- Hair and nails grow slowr and become brittle needing higher levels of attention.
- Higher blood pressure (hypertension) - swollen ankles can be a symptom.
- Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries.)
- Greater risk of heart disease, hypertension, stroke and respiratory diseases (such as Pneumonia.)
- Aspiration pneumonia as a result of matter from the stomach or mouth getting into the lungs.
- Brain cells decrease leading to memory loss.
- Can also lead to reflexes slowing down, co-ordination difficulties and being more easily distracted.
- There is a greater risk of Dementia among people with Learning Disabilities
- Untreated hearing loss can also lead to dementia.
- Changes in sleep patterns.
- Sleep problems can be an indication of poor health or chronic health problems.
- Increase in anxiety and depression.
- Although Sepsis is rare, it’s important to have an awareness of it as signs are often missed, yet the infection needs to be treated urgently.
- It can quickly lead to severe sepsis or septic shock which, in turn, can cause organ failure or death.
- The person may not have a temperature or high fever but just feel very unwell.
- People with learning disabilities may have a number of pre-conditions that out them at greater risk of sepsis.
- The incidence of thyroid problems increases with age but is sometimes difficult to diagnose as there may be a reduced number of symptoms or they may not be as obvious as those in younger people.
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is the most common thyroid condition in people over 60 years of age; symptoms such as confusion, memory loss, depression, falling, heart failure and constipation are frequently missed as they are also signs of common illness in older people