Meeting the Health Needs of People with Learning Disability

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MISS Tee Jones NM4 203 – Introduction to learning disability Group work With reference to the RCN publication: ‘Meeting the Health Needs of People with Learning Disabilities: RCN guidance for nursing staff” (2011) [www.rcn.org.uk], choose one specific health need and outline the potential role of the nurse in helping to maintain the health of an individual with learning disabilities. OBESITY The Nurse can help to maintain the health of an individual with learning disabilities suffering from obesity, by recognising them as an individual. The family members and carers should be informed regarding the dangers of obesity in a person with learning disability. Their involvement in creating a diet plan for the individual will be helpful; this is because they are aware of the different food the individual enjoys. It is Important to involve the individual in the planning of a diet and letting them know the benefits of the diet. During the planning of the diet, the individual can be shown pictures of an obese person and of a slim person and let them recognise the difference in the size that they are required to achieve. It will be advantageous to let them know that they will avoid the risk of illnesses such as diabetes if they were to keep to the diet plan that they made. There are increased risks to health problems being overweight, and especially being obese. These health problems include type 2 diabetes. Losing weight more slowly will reduce the chance of gaining it again this is what an individual with learning disability requires. It might be creative to give the individual an incentive with what interests them using milestone achievements. This will encourage the Individual. Reference: Royal College of Nursing. (2011). Meeting the health needs of people with learning disability. Retrieved from www.rcn.org.uk. Royal College of Nursing. (2011). Meeting

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