Conditions and disabilities

 

Autism is a lifelong condition. It is a spectrum disorder, which means that everyone who has autism experiences it differently and is affected in different ways. All autistic people share certain difficulties around social communication, social interaction and social imagination. However, they will often experience very individual sensory difficulties. These can include over/under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light, or colours.

Many autistic people may never come to the attention of services because they have learned strategies to overcome any difficulties and are able to live independent lives. However, autistic people are more likely to experience higher levels of stress and an increased likelihood of mental health issues. Some autistic people may also have learning disabilities or other conditions.

 

Lincolnshire local information hub

The local information hub is hosted by the Lincolnshire Autistic Society, they have developed the site to be an information hub for anyone looking for information and support about Autism.

The society is dedicated to building awareness and understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders [ASD] (and conditions related to Autism) in order to improve the quality of life and outcomes for children and adults, their parents and carers living with ASD.

 

Services available with an Adult Care Assessment

Any support or services you may be eligible for will depend on the outcome of your Adult Care assessment. This will establish if you have any eligible care and support needs. A formal diagnosis of autism will not necessarily indicate your eligibility to receive services.

Support that may be available can include:

• advocacy
• information and advice
• help to live in your home and support to access your local community
• day opportunities
• respite care
• community supported living or residential care
• specialist therapy services

 

A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities which affects someone for their whole life.

People with a learning disability tend to take longer to learn and may need support to develop new skills, understand complicated information and interact with other people.

The level of support someone needs depends on the individual. For example, someone with a mild learning disability may only need support with things like getting a job. However, someone with a severe or profound learning disability may need full­time care and support with every aspect of their life.

 

Services available with an Adult Care Assessment

Any support or services you may be eligible for will depend on the outcome of your Adult Care assessment. This will establish if you have any eligible care and support needs.

Support could include:

• professional support from Lincolnshire County Council’s Community Learning Disability Teams
• help to live in your home, including personal care or support to access your local community
• day opportunities, which could be a building based service or individual support to assist you to access community based activities, including leisure, work and education
• a short break to give your informal carers a break from their caring role. This could take place in a residential setting, a shared lives placement, in your own home or away from home with support
• a shared lives placement, where you can stay for a short break or on a long-term basis in a shared lives carer’s home
• community supported living – if you are eligible for adult care services, you can have a personal budget to live more independently within the community
• residential care if your needs cannot be safely met with a community based support package
• advocacy, information and advice
• specialist therapy services – the Lincolnshire County Council Community Learning Disability Teams work in partnership with health colleagues who deliver a wide range of specialist learning disability therapy services through the HUB teams

Annual Health Checks

People with a learning disability often have poorer physical and mental health than other people. This does not need to be the case.

Annual health checks are for adults and young people aged 14 or over with a learning disability. An annual health check helps you stay well be talking about your health and finding any problems early, so you get the right care.

You do not have to be ill to have a health check – in fact, most people have their annual health check when they’re feeling well. This flyer offers more information on the health checks and how they are carried out.

Watch this film about annual health check for people with a learning disability.

 

 

A physical disability may affect, either temporarily or permanently, a person’s physical capacity and/or mobility. There are different causes of physical disabilities but they can include serious illness or injury, or genetic or inherited disorders.

 

Services available with an Adult Care Assessment

Any support or services you may be eligible for will depend on the outcome of your Adult Care assessment. This will establish if you have any eligible care and support needs.

Support could include:

• help to live in your home, including personal care or support to access your local community
• day opportunities, which could be a building based service or individual support to assist you to access community based activities, including leisure, work and education
• a short break to give your informal carers a break from their caring role. This could take place in a residential setting, a shared lives placement, in your own home or away from home with support
• a shared lives placement, where you can stay for a short break or on a long-term basis in a shared lives carer’s home
• community supported living – if you are eligible for adult care services, you can have a personal budget to live more independently within the community
• residential care if your needs cannot be safely met with a community based support package
• advocacy, information and advice

 

Worried about your memory

Memory problems can be due to a number of reasons and can happen to everyone from time to time. If you have memory worries you can visit the Alzheimer’s Society website. The website has information about what to do if you are worried about your memory, including:

• should you be worried about your memory problems
• what you should do if you are worried
• ways to help your memory
• what to do if you are worried about someone else’s memory

It’s important to visit your GP if your memory is getting noticeably worse or affecting your everyday life.

 

Dementia

Dementia is described as a set of symptoms that may include problems with memory, thinking, problem-solving, and language. Issues are often small to begin with but may become severe enough to affect parts of daily life.

The Alzheimer’s Society website is full of information about dementia, including:

• what dementia is
• the different types of dementia
• progression of dementia
• guides and advice

The national NHS website can provide further advice about dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease.

 

Dementia Support Service

The Dementia Support Service is provided by Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT). The service is funded by Lincolnshire County Council. The service gives you access to a support worker who will provide guidance and advice throughout all stages of your dementia journey.

 

Joint Dementia Strategy 2018 - 2021

The Lincolnshire Joint Strategy for Dementia 2018 - 2021 sets out the vision and details the progress and achievements since the implementation of the Lincolnshire Joint Strategy for Dementia 2014 - 2017. The new strategy provides information on the priorities for dementia services in Lincolnshire over the next three years.

 

Dementia Research

The National Institute for Health Research has a project called Join Dementia Research. People with dementia or memory problems, their carers and anyone who is interested can sign up. You can also sign up for someone else, providing that you have their consent. Registering is the first step in becoming involved in supporting vital research studies across the nation.

 

A sensory impairment is when one of your senses (generally sight and hearing) is no longer working as it should. A person does not have to have a full loss of sense to be sensory impairment.

A dual sensory impairment is a combination of both hearing and sight impairment. A person does not have to have the total loss of both senses and the majority of people that are dual sensory impaired have some degree or sight and/or hearing.

 

Lincolnshire Sensory Services

Lincolnshire Sensory Services provides specialist support across Lincolnshire for people who are visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or have dual sensory loss. The service is delivered on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council by Action on Hearing Loss.

Lincolnshire Sensory Services understands the practical and emotional challenges that people with sensory loss face. They work to promote independence, accessibility, and wellbeing for people of all ages.

Services available include:

• registration of sight, hearing and dual sensory loss
• information and guidance on living with sensory loss
• equipment to help maintain safety and independence
• mobility training such as long cane skills and routes for safe and independent travel
• daily living skills training
• social development and mobility for children with sensory impairment
• signposting and referral to other services, organisations and groups for longer term support
• community drop-ins offering hearing aid re-tubing and battery replacement

More information is available on the Lincolnshire Sensory Services website.

 

When stroke strikes, part of your brain shuts down. And so does a part of you. That's because a stroke happens in the brain, the control centre for who we are and what we can do. The impact varies depending on which part of the brain is affected. It could be anything from wiping out your speech and physical abilities, to affecting your emotions and personality. Stroke changes lives in an instant, but the brain can adapt, and so can you. The Stroke Association is here to support people to rebuild their lives after stroke.