Happy Bones Bone Health in

Intellectual DisabilitiesLorraine Ledger

CNM3 St Michael’s House

Happy BonesAn Educational Resource developed for:

• people with Intellectual Disabilities

• their families

• their carers

• healthcare professionals.

Includes:

• a web site,

• an easy read leaflet

• a booklet

Aim is that “ Happy Bones” will be adopted nationally and become synonymous with healthy bones for the Intellectual Disability population

Paula Carroll & Una Hennessy

Why Is It Important?

Greater risk factors for people with an ID from a young age due to :• Specific Syndromes• Co Morbidities• Immobility• Adverse effects of medications• Vitamin D deficiency • Protected lifestyles

Background

• St Michael’s House, Osteoporosis Awareness Campaign 2011

• MDT input • Doctor• Nurse• Physiotherapist• Dietician

• Education sessions for all staff• Leaflet and mail shot to families• Generic referral letter for DXA Scan

Advancing Years Differing Challenges – Wave 2 IDS-TILDA

Prevalence of Osteoporosis People with Intellectual disability General population 35% 28% Age 50 - 64 36.8% 8%

Prevalence of Osteopenia 37% 14%

7 out of 10 people with an intellectual disability have either osteopenia or osteoporosisOsteoporosis is the most common non-cardiovascular chronic disease in the Intellectual Disability population

http://www.idstilda.tcd.ie/assets/pdf/Wave_2_Report_October_2014.pdf

St Michaels House DXA Results

70% demonstrate some degree of bone thinning

• Supplements and treatments prescribed

• Dietary improvements• Exercise programmes• Carer’s are generally more

bone health aware

• Follow up Dexa scans – this year 2015

Actions

Gap in Service Delivery

• Recognised need for education for all regarding bone health and falls prevention in those with an intellectual disability – “Bone Health is a lifelong process”

• Blinkered vision – some units in St Michael’s House

• Linked with ANP in St Mary’s Healthy Ageing Clinic who had developed bone health in the park www.bonehealth.co

Forever Autumn COPAreas represented:• Acute• Community• Residential• Palliative Care• Intellectual Disability

Expressed interest from Intellectual Disability sector

No education available nationally

PhD work by Sinead Foran (WIT) & Eilish Bourke (TCD)

Facts from TILDA Report

Advancing Years Differing Challenges – Wave 2 IDS-TILDA

Prevalence of Falls People with Intellectual disability General populationAge 40 – 49 22.7%Age 50 - 59 33% 17.6%

Age 75+ 24.6%

Recurrent falls 15.3% 8.8%

Injurious falls 13.7% 9.9%

http://www.idstilda.tcd.ie/assets/pdf/Wave_2_Report_October_2014.pdf

Bone Health in Intellectual DisabilityCommenced work with St Michael’s House Aug 2014 to develop educational resource on bone health for service users, carer’s, key workers and health care professionals

Built on existing work

Collaborated with MDT in St Michael’s House with representation from Nursing, Medicine, Dietetics and Physiotherapy

Name: Service user in Work Options came up with name Development of an information booklet for carer’s and

health care professionals Short film for service users Easy read flyer for service users Website for all www.happybones.ie

Happy Bones

www.happybones.ie