Learning Disability Carers

If you care for a person with a learning disability, whether it’s your son or daughter, brother or sister, parent, partner or other relative or friend, these pages are for you. Here you’ll find useful information on caring for someone with a learning disability, which aims to make the challenges faced by carers a little easier.

There are approximately 1.5 million people in the UK with learning disabilities; these impairments are present when a baby is born or acquired shortly afterwards.

Caring for someone with learning disabilities

Family carers of people with learning disabilities are often unique amongst carers. For many they will be experiencing a lifetime of caring, as a son, daughter or sibling with learning disabilities. They may have been expected to have a short lifespan thirty or forty years ago, however they may now be living a longer and more fulfilling life with more dedicated support available.

Negotiating the various services means that family carers may have decades of experience. Carers of people with learning disabilities must have recognition that having a break, finding support and getting the best and most appropriate services must be seen in the context of a lifetime of caring.

Information for Carers

As a Carer of someone with a learning disability you may feel confused and distressed. There is help available for carers from the Cornwall Carers Service who can help liaise with health, education and social services, as well as other local organisations in the private and voluntary sector.  All of which can help the person with the learning disability to reach their full potential, as well as help make your life as a carer more manageable.

Cornwall Carers Service has two dedicated Learning Disability Support Workers who can visit you at home to offer support and information.

The service can be accessed via our Helpline;

0800 266383 open Mon – Fri 8:00am to 6:00pm.  An answering service is available outside of these hours

Looking after yourself as a Carer is vital

See the Princess Royal Trust for Carers section on taking care of yourself (http://www NULL.carers NULL.org/help-directory/taking-care-yourself) for some advice and a list of resources, articles and websites.

Return to Adult Carers Services