The provision of community nursing support for persons with an intellectual disability and palliative care needs: a descriptive survey

Forward On behalf of the research team, I am pleased to introduce this report which presents the findings of a regional evaluation entitled: The provision of community nursing support for persons with an intellectual disability and palliative care needs. The broadening of the World Health Organisation (2002) position on palliative care, developed to include the provision of palliative care for all persons with a life threatening illness regardless of diagnosis, has resulted in increased numbers of patients and families accessing palliative/end of life care services. It is known that people with an intellectual disability have a disproportionate health burden when compared with the general population and accessing health service can be difficult. In today’s society people with an intellectual disability have largely moved away from a long term residential model of care, and are accessing wider health services. They are entitled to receive equitable care and support from a workforce that recognises all as equal citizens. However, internationally it is acknowledged that there is an inequity of experience for people with an intellectual disability within mainstream health services, and this is not satisfactory. This report provides a snapshot of community nursing practice in an Irish setting of palliative/end of life care for people with an intellectual disability in a health region. The report is a welcome addition to the existing international literature which includes a small number of Irish studies. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the respondents for giving of their time to complete the questionnaire and the Irish Hospice Foundation and the University of Limerick for their continued interest and support