Establishing a database for proactive screening of adults with Down's syndrome: when services work together

Abstract

Purpose

This paper describes a service improvement project with two aims: to identify and screen all adults with Down's syndrome aged over 30 years in a defined locality using a standardised instrument to establish functional baselines; and to set up a database to facilitate early diagnosis of dementia in this population.

Design/methodology/approach

An assistant psychologist used a standardised instrument to screen participants who were identified through contact with health, social, and third sector, and housing services.

Findings

Eligible people were identified and screened using an informant‐based measure. Three groups were identified: group 1 showed no significant change; group 2 showed significant change but no signs of dementia; and group 3 showed significant change plus signs of dementia. People with suspected dementia were referred on for further investigation/assessment and supportive services.

Practical implications

Terminology is important in engaging families in a screening project, as is the opportunity to provide information. A proactive screening project can be established by employing working partnerships between intellectual disability and older adult services to aid diagnosis.

Originality/value

Adults with Down's syndrome aged over 30 years in a defined locality can be identified through contact with health, social, and third sector, and housing services. Those identified can be screened using a standardised instrument and a database of screening results established in order to establish baselines against which future re‐screening can be conducted. Partnership working between older adult mental health services and intellectual disability services can improve the diagnostic service to adults with Down's syndrome.

Citation

Hobson, B., Webb, D., Sprague, L., Grizzell, M., Hawkins, C. and Benbow, S.M. (2012), "Establishing a database for proactive screening of adults with Down's syndrome: when services work together", Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. 6 No. 2, pp. 99-105. https://doi.org/10.1108/20441281211208464