Learning Disabilities Handbook

A new handbook facilitating peer support activities to help people with learning disabilities understand about growing older and living with dementia is being launched by the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities.


Christine Towers, who  wrote  ‘Talking Together’ after facilitating peer support groups with Cindy Glover, said:
“The timing of this handbook is particularly important because with the move from residential care to supported living, more people are in shared houses in the community and will need support to cope with dementia if they or one of their housemates develop the disease.”

Talking Together is comprised of 20 participative activities to talk together, share experiences and have fun whilst developing understanding: this approach encourages empathy and active involvement rather than simply giving information.

Group sessions were run in two places, one a shared house for six people, one of whom had dementia and a day centre for older people with learning disabilities where, again, one person had dementia.