Families, carers and professionals who support people with learning disabilities are invited to learn more about the impact of constipation at a health promotion event this month.
The ‘Let’s Talk Poo’ event takes place at Mary Stevens Park in Stourbridge on Thursday 27 April and aims to provide vital information on how to spot the signs of constipation and ways to treat it.
It comes as research has found that people with learning disabilities are often at a higher risk of constipation than the general population. Factors include the likelihood of being prescribed medication that is associated with constipation and potentially being unable to communicate if they are constipated.
If not treated promptly, constipation can lead to more complex health problems which is why education on the subject is vital.
The Promoting Access to Mainstream Health Services (PAMHS) team at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHFT) have teamed up with the Dudley Continence Service to host the event which includes activities such as stone painting while health professionals will be on hand to talk about bowel health. There will also be the chance to walk around an inflatable bowel to gain more knowledge on reducing the risks of constipation.
Mandy Marsh, lead nurse for PAMHS Learning Disabilities at BCHFT, said: “Anybody supporting people with learning disabilities should be aware that they are at a higher risk of having constipation. As they may be unable to communicate this, being aware of the signs and symptoms is essential.
“Being aware of the signs and symptoms is essential as behaviours displayed by people with a learning disability may be linked to constipation.
“We hope that by sharing these useful and lifesaving resources with people with learning disabilities, their carers and health professionals across the Black Country, we can reduce the risk of constipation and deaths linked to it within adults with a learning disability.”
Alongside the event, the team has also produced a resource pack that focuses on reducing the risk of constipation in adults with learning disabilities.
Developed by the Trust’s PAMHS teams and supported by a variety of clinical individuals, from speech and language therapists, community nursing to physiotherapy, the pack includes accessible, easy read information and a screening tool and a care plan for health professionals, GPs or providers to use and share with their clients.
The pack is available to download at: https://www.blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk/about-us/learning-disabilities-resource-hub/managing-constipation-project
The Let’s Talk Poo event takes place at Mary Stevens Park, Stourbridge from 10am to 2pm on Thursday 27 April and is free to attend.