Two free courses to improve the care of older people with learning disabilities have been launched by The Open University.

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.

The two new courses are available now on the OU’s free learning platform OpenLearn.

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 on activities that enhanced their lives, helping them to live and age well.  Our courses aims to help families and professionals to make excellent care happen by right for everyone.”