Adult Social Care

Specific needs and disabilities

Learning disabilities

Having a learning disability means that people find it harder to learn certain life skills. This varies from person to person but may include aspects such as learning new information, communication, managing money, reading, writing, or personal care.

A person with learning disabilities and their carers will be supported by Adult Social Care to be as independent as possible and to live the life they choose in the community of their choice, with the same opportunities as others to lead a fulfilling life.

We ensure access to education, work and leisure opportunities, with the same rights as any person to live where they want, with whom they want and in safety. 

For more information and guidance about learning disabilities, visit: 

Physical disabilities

A physical disability is any type of physical condition that significantly affects the way you carry out everyday tasks or activities. 

Types of physical disabilities, their causes, and the way in which they impact a person's life are wide-ranging. They can be the result of congenital birth issues, accidental injury, or illness. A person may also have more than one physical condition. 

If you have a physical disability, equipment and adaptations can help you live more independently and confidently in your own home and support you getting out and about in your local community. 

For example, if you:

  • find it difficult to carry out day-to-day activities, such as having a bath or a shower
  • struggle getting around your home, such as going up and down the stairs
  • feel unsafe in your own home

There are many different types of equipment that can help you, including:

  • bath seats
  • trolleys for carrying things around your home
  • raised toilet seats and commodes
  • specially adapted beds and chairs
  • grab rails to help your stability around the home

Visit the People First website for information on Equipment to help at home. 

If you have a physical disability, you may be eligible for support from us. This will vary depending on the type and level of disability, and we will need to complete an assessment to understand your needs. 

For more information and guidance on physical disabilities, visit: 

Sensory impairments

Hearing loss and deafness

Hearing loss and deafness are very common and can range in severity, from mild loss of hearing to total deafness. It may also only affect one ear, or both, and make some day-to-day tasks harder. 

If you think that you may be suffering from hearing loss, there are important steps you can take:

  • make an appointment to see your GP. They will be able to advise whether you need a further referral to have your hearing checked
  • talk to your family and friends to make them aware of your hearing difficulties

For more information on hearing loss, visit:

Sight loss and blindness

Sight loss and visual impairment can be caused by a variety of eye conditions. Different conditions cause different difficulties. 

If you are having problems with your sight, there are important steps you can take:

  • make an appointment to visit an optician as soon as possible
  • go to your GP. They may be able to refer you to an eye clinic

For more more information and guidance, visit:

Dual-sensory loss

Dual-sensory loss is when a person has impairment to both sight and hearing and is sometimes called ‘deafblindness’. 

Someone with dual sensory loss may have been born with an impairment to their hearing or sight and developed a second impairment later on. These impairments may vary, with some people having more abilities in one sense than in others. 

For more information and guidance visit the Dual-sensory impairment pages on PeopleFirst.

Equipment

If you have a sensory impairment, equipment and adaptations can help you live more independently and confidently in your own home and support you getting out and about in your local community. 

For example, if you:

  • find it difficult to carry out day-to-day activities, such as having a bath or a shower
  • struggle getting around your home, such as going up and down the stairs
  • feel unsafe in your own home

Visit the People First website for information on equipment to help at home. 

Mental health

Looking after your mental health, mood and emotional wellbeing is as important as taking care of yourself physically. Keeping the mind active and having strategies to cope during difficult times in your life can help you to feel more positive and make good decisions for the future. 

One in four adults will experience some kind of mental health problem over the course of a year, and for some people they can be long-term or recurring problems.

It's important to take care of your mental health and seek help and support just as you would for a physical health condition - whether that means going to see your GP, finding a support group, or trying some self-help strategies.

There are many services, both nationally and locally that can provide support. In this first instance, it is best to speak to your GP if you have concerns about, for instance:

  • depression
  • anxiety
  • feelings related to change
  • feelings related to bereavement
  • feelings related to personal and family problems
  • your mental health in general

Your GP may refer you to NHS psychological therapies, such as counselling or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). 

If you or someone that you care for is having extreme mental health difficulties, you may need help quickly. If your or their safety is at serious or immediate risk, then contact the ambulance or police service by dialling 999. 

Additional support is available from the Single Point of Access (SPA) in Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster. They offer mental health triage for routine, urgent and emergency referrals as well as information and advice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can contact them on 0800 0234 650.

More information and guidance on mental health, visit:

Dementia

The word 'dementia' covers a range of diseases or disorders affecting the brain. It comes in different forms, the most common being Alzheimer's disease and vascular disease.

Symptoms include loss of memory, confusion, and changes in personality, mood, and behaviour. 

Dementia usually affects older people and becomes more common with age, although it can develop in younger people. It is important to remember that developing dementia is not an expected part of growing old and that only a minority of older people are affected. 

It is also important to remember that whilst you may feel you are having problems with your memory or other age-related issues, this does not necessarily mean that you are developing dementia. 

The Council is committed to supporting people with dementia and their carers so that they can lead lives that are as happy, fulfilling and independent as possible. The Council is now accredited as a Dementia Friendly Community by the Alzheimer’s Society.

More information and guidance on dementia, visit: 

Autism

Autism and the related Asperger’s syndrome are part of a range of disorders that can cause difficulties with communication and social skills. 

This range of conditions is often referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They are a set of related disorders that begin in childhood and persist throughout adulthood.

Autism is not a learning disability, but around half of autistic people may also have a learning disability.

ASD can cause a wide range of symptoms, which are grouped into 3 broad categories:

  • Problems and difficulties with social interaction, such as a lack of understanding and awareness of other people's emotions and feelings.
  • Impaired language and communication skills, such as delayed language development and an inability to start conversations or take part in them properly.
  • Unusual patterns of thought and physical behaviour. This includes making repetitive physical movements, such as hand tapping or twisting. 

For more information and guidance on autism, visit:

Last updated: 22 March 2024