Page updated: 29.06.09
Health Information
Keeping well and feeling good.
Easy Health is an exciting new website with lots of free information about all sorts of health problems. Click here to find out more
Leaflets about health for people with learning
FAIR is an Edinburgh-based advice and information service for people with learning disabilities and carers. They produce high quality, affordable health materials for people with learning disabilities.Community Learning Disability Nurses work with FAIR to write the leaflets and test them with the target audience. Leaflets include: a guide to the menopause, a guide to having a smear test, having a healthy mouth, checking your breasts, living with cancer, HIV, giving up smoking and a guide to having a healthy heart.
You can ring FAIR on 0131 662 1962, email fair@fairadvice.org.uk or visit their website by clicking here
Looking after your body
Being healthy is important because it makes you feel good and live longer.
- Eating the right food
- Drinking lots of water
- Doing the right exercise
- Taking medicine if you are sick
- Getting your eyes and teeth checked
- Knowing what to do if you are ill
- Feeling good about yourself
The Adult Learning Disability Teams (Bedford and Heartlands) are teams of social workers and community nurses who work closely together to support people with a learning disability. They also work closely with the Specialist Learning Disability Services at Twinwoods.
For Bedford or Heartlands - Tel: (01234) 276762
Opening times
Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm
If you need to speak to someone outside of working hours, please call: Emergency Duty Team Tel: (0870) 2385465
Health Action Plans
A Health Action Plan is a plan says what you can do to be healthy. It is a way of helping you get the services and support you need to have a healthy life. Since 2005, anyone with a learning disability should have the chance to have a Health Action Plan. You can get one by making an appointment with a health worker such as a doctor or nurse and asking them for a Health Action Plan. Once you have a plan, you should take it with you every time you go for a health appointment. It will have information like:
- How you can get good information about your health
- How you should look after yourself if you have problems with your health
- Who to talk to if you are worried about your health or are in hospital
- What sorts of food are good
- What exercise is good
- How to be safe at home or outside
- How often to get your eyes, ears and teeth checked
- Having friends and hobbies
Looking after your eyes
Look Up is a national information service on eye care and vision for people with learning disabilities. The website has lots of information and downloads or you can ring them.Tel: 0800 121 8900
Sight Concern are a local service and give information and support to people who are blind or visually impaired. They have offices in Bedford and Luton.
116, Bromham Road, Bedford. MK41Telephone: 01234-311555
14, Stuart Street, LutonTelephone: 01582-655554
Talking Newspapers
Bedford and District Audio News (BDAN) provides free weekly and quarterly Talking Newspaper cassettes so you can listen to the local news and stories.
To find out more, telephone 01234 309934 or go to their website by clicking here.
You can listen to the Luton News and Dunstable Gazette on a computer. Just go to their website and click on the green arrow next to the big red ‘Talking Newspaper’ square
Epilepsy
The National Society for Epilepsy can give you lots of information and support through their website or their national helpline which is open Monday to Friday from 10am - 4pm on 01494 601400
Diabetes
If you have diabetes you have to be careful about what you eat and when you eat. It is also important to have your eyes and feet checked regularly as diabetes can affect them. You can read more by visiting the Diabetes UK website
Looking after your mind
When you mental health is not good, everything in your life can seem difficult. You might feel that:
- You can’t make decisions
- Your feelings are confusing
- You don’t want to talk to other people or be with them
- Your life is too much to manage
People with a learning disability are more likely to have mental health problems than the rest of the population.
This can often be missed because other people think that changes in their mood or behaviour is just part of their learning disability.
The Clear Thoughts website is all about mental health for people with a learning disability – it has lots of clear and accessible information.
One For Us have a section with information about mental health on their website.
Dementia: Sometimes as people get older, they can get confused. This might be caused by dementia.
There's more to come!
We will be adding to this information all the time! If you offer a health service, information or advice or if you have used a service and would like to tell others about it – please let us know by using contact us.