The Open University has launched two free courses aimed at supporting professionals and families who care for older people with learning disabilities.

The two new courses, which are available now on the OU’s free learning platform OpenLearn, aim to address the issues arising from the research and support both families and professionals in providing services for this undervalued and under-researched group.

Supporting older people with learning disabilities and their families” and Caring for an older family member with learning disabilities have been developed using inclusive research overseen by Louise Wallace, Professor of Psychology and Health at The Open University and Professor Sara Ryan from Manchester Metropolitan University.

Studies have found that older people with learning disabilities don’t always get the opportunities they need to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives.

This is largely down to a lack of choice on what care and accommodation is available and a reluctance from some families and people with learning disabilities to plan ahead.

This is due to a distrust of the services offered based on previous poor experiences and a lack of information available to them about what support and opportunities exist.

These two new courses, which are available now on the OU’s free learning platform OpenLearn, aim to address the issues arising from the research and support both families and professionals in providing services for this undervalued and under-researched group.

Louise Wallace, Professor of Psychology and Health at The Open University  team, said: “We have found that too often the needs of older people with learning disabilities and their families are overlooked by heath and care services, and as many as half the families are not even known to these services.

“This means people get ill when it could have been prevented, and services provide crisis accommodation far from home, which is less than ideal. Family carers reported a lack of support around planning ahead and an absence of social work support. 

“But we did also find examples of excellent care where staff were chosen by the person receiving services and who shared their values and supported them to take part in activities that enhanced their lives, helping them to live and age well. Our courses aim to help families and professionals to make excellent care happen by right for everyone.“

 Dr Mary Larkin, Professor of Care, Carers and Caring who wrote the course for family carers, said “There is very little support for family carers who are caring for an older family member with learning disabilities.

“It has been really rewarding working on this innovative course as it represents a step change in this area in that it pulls together existing resources and cutting-edge research from the Growing Older Planning Ahead project in order to better equip those who care for a family member who is middle-aged or older to overcome the challenges of planning the future care for their family member.”

Supporting older people with learning disabilities and their families is a six-hour course for registered professionals and non-registered health and social care workers to give a better understanding of what excellent care looks like, how it can be replicated and who needs to be involved in delivering it.

Caring for an older family member with learning disabilities is a four-hour course aimed at families and family carers to help them navigate the system and advocate for themselves and the person they are caring for as they grow older.