CARE OF THE PERSON WITH EPILEPSY

Epilepsy services have been criticized for not providing appropriate, high-quality care, with services portrayed as having little direction and ineffective communication channels between primary and secondary care (Ridsdale 2000). In addition, the Department of Health has recently published its Health Action Plan, Improving Services for People with Epilepsy (Department of Health 2003). This was in response to Hanna et al.’s (2002) report on epilepsy-related deaths. Hanna et al. (2002) report that the risk of premature death in adults with epilepsy is two to three times greater than in the general population.

The Action Plan has three main targets for improvement:

• care, management and treatment of epilepsy

• information provision

• pathology and post-mortem investigations.

Hanna et al. (2002) reported that 54 per cent of all adults were receiving poor and inadequate care. Of these, 20 per cent had inadequate AED management, 5 per cent had no evidence of a care package and 6 per cent of adults with learning disabilities were ‘lost’ in the transition from child to adult services. They also reported poor communication between healthcare professionals and reported that only 10 per cent of families were contacted by a specialist after an epilepsy-related death.

Learning-disability specialists, students and carers all need to increase their awareness of the higher risk of death for people with learning disabilities and epilepsy. Stokes et al. (2004) indicate that all adults with learning disabilities and epilepsy should have a comprehensive risk-assessment package. They suggest that it should include:

• bathing and showering

• preparing food

• using electrical equipment

• managing prolonged or serial seizures

• the impact of epilepsy in social settings

• SUDEP*

• the suitability of independent living, where the rights of the individual are balanced with the role of the carer.

(*SUDEP: Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy)

(Stokes et al. 2004, p. 326)

Every adult with a learning disability and epilepsy should be reviewed annually (or sooner if the person’s health condition dictates) by an epileptologist, to ensure that treatment regimes are appropriate and helpful in the management and control of seizures.

اخر الاخبار

اخبار العتبة العباسية المقدسة

قسم شؤون المعارف يحصي منجزاته العلمية لعام 2025

شعبة الخطابة الحسينية النسوية تقيم برنامج مراقي العلا التوعوي لطالبات مدارس كربلاء

معهد القرآن الكريم النسوي يقيم مجلس عزاء بذكرى وفاة السيدة زينب (عليها السلام)

قسم الشؤون الفكرية يقدم محاضرة توعوية لمجموعة من طلبة مدارس بغداد

المزيد

الآخبار الصحية

طبيب يكشف أفضل مكمل غذائي لتحسين المزاج ودعم الصحة النفسية

دراسة جديدة تكشف أضرار الأطعمة الجاهزة على القلب ؟

6 أطعمة طبيعية تهدئ الزكام دون أدوية.. تعرف عليهم

ماذا يحدث لأعراض الزكام عند تناول الثوم بانتظام؟

المزيد

الآخبار التكنلوجية

ابتكار ثوري في بطاريات السيارات الكهربائية.. سعة أعلى 4 مرات

ماذا يحدث لجسمك عند شرب الماء الساخن يوميا؟

7 فوائد "خفية" لشرب شاي الكركديه كل يوم

دراسة تكشف قدرة الحيتان على سماع الأصوات منخفضة وعالية التردد من مسافة بعيدة

المزيد

مواضيع ذات صلة

Parents with Learning Disabilities CONCLUSION

PROVISION OF SUPPORT

CARING FOR CHILDREN

EUGENICS AND ETHICAL ISSUES

PARENTING

DISCRIMINATION AND DIVERSITY

THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Parents with Learning Disabilities

Legislation and Learning Disabilities CONCLUSION

LEGAL SAFEGUARDS

MENTAL CAPACITY ACT 2005

THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 1998