Providing holistic care

This chapter focusses on supporting and coordinating care for people with learning disabilities who mighty experience multiple health conditions in the context of contemporary health care systems. The chapter presents model - an adapted version of the House of Care - for carers, supporters and professionals to reflect on their knowledge and understanding of the person, their physical, emotional and spiritual domains. This knowledge is vital in facilitating and supporting the individual to have their competing healthcare needs met by social and primary care staff. Several significant support structures such as purchasing services, ensuring staff have the right information and that carers and care workers have the right education and attributes to work across organisational boundaries and maintain a shared purpose are also identified. These are exemplified with scenarios and narratives from the author’s experience and practice.