SOME TIPS FOR CARING FOR ADULTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES AND CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR
المؤلف:
COSTAS JOANNIDES
المصدر:
Caring for People with Learning Disabilities
الجزء والصفحة:
P47-C3
2025-10-08
216
SOME TIPS FOR CARING FOR ADULTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES AND CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR
Challenging behavior is any behavior that interferes with the adult with a learning disability’s learning development and success in daily routines or activities; is harmful to the adult with a learning disability and other people; or puts the adult with a learning disability at high risk for later problems and failures.
Caring for an adult with a learning disability with challenging behavior is a challenge in its own right – but it is one that carers can overcome with the appropriate strategies. Table 1 offers some ideas that have been proven to work and which can benefit all adults with learning disabilities, not just those with challenging behavior.
Some key points related to John and his behavior are as follows. When someone like John is unmanageable or out of control, it appears that nothing is working out:
• Stand between John and the rest of the world – keep a safe distance and do not become physical by trying to move or handle him.
• Do not confront him. To keep him from feeling trapped, stand aside, remain composed and do not stare into his eyes.
• Do not talk or shout, as John is not ready to listen.
• Do not ignore his behavior, but when he is calm, talk to him quietly. Assist him in expressing his feelings. Try to show him that people care for him and assist him in coping with problem strategies for next time.
• Establish an ABC (Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence) Behavior Chart (Felce & McBrien 1992).
Table 1 Some ideas that may enhance care for all people with learning
disabilities, not only those with challenging behavior
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Caring for the adult with a learning disability – be sure that she or he knows that you care for him/her and set aside time to spend with him/her.
Give him/her your undivided attention and let him/her have a choice; let him/her choose his/her own activity and make sure she or he knows you appreciate his/her input in activities.
Appropriate behavior – this must be encouraged, thus minimizing the opportunities for challenging behaviors. It is important to build appropriate patterns of behavior so that trouble can be anticipated, to prevent the difficult situation from occurring and help the adult with a learning disability to remember what to do instead of correcting his/her mistakes.
The environment provided must enhance success and opportunities. Safety must be of primary importance, i.e. remove any dangerous objects, fragile items. Try to provide comfortable areas of activities and select items that interest the adult with a learning disability with challenging behavior. Use inclusion techniques and keep all activities well planned and organized.
Pick activities around the needs of the individual, e.g. if Mary is very upset when she is painting because she is hungry, give her a snack.
Set goals and clear limits, and enforce them consistently. Attempt to encourage the adult with a learning disability with challenging behavior to know what is expected. Certain allowances should be made, such as Mary leaving her paintbrush on the table – that’s OK.
Create opportunities/routines and stick to them. Adults with learning disabilities and challenging behavior like routines and predictability, especially when they know what’s coming next. It is also important to give some advance instructions of changes in activity, e.g. ‘After you go for a walk, you must have your tea’.
As a carer, learn to recognize changes in mood, especially with anxiety levels. As a carer, stop the task you are doing and give more attention to the adult with a learning disability whom you are caring for, e.g. give him a smile or ask if you can help or listen to him carefully. If you can prevent a problem in good time and in the early stages, then challenging behavior may be prevented.
Do not discourage activities by saying ‘Don’t do it’, but ask whether he wishes to do something else. Be patient if he needs this support repeatedly, and allow him to practice.
From an empathy point of view, as a carer, put yourself in someone’s shoes and try to find out how he gets what he wants from his challenging behavior. Does he get attention (positive or negative)? Does he do it to avoid things? Is he calmer? Once you identify the challenging behavior, then you can help the adult with a learning disability to cope in a more acceptable way.
Remain calm. When things are not going smoothly, take a deep breath and count to 10. By showing the adult with a learning disability that you can handle the situation with a cool and tolerant head, you can become his role model.
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