Obviously, people with learning disabilities have ordinary health care needs similar to those of the rest of the population and the same rights of access to health care services. By having a dedicated live-in carer, day-to-day access to health promotion, primary health care services, community health services and specialist health services is significantly improved. Live-in carers can also help clients with learning disabilities by supporting their learning and communication difficulties.

Because an individual with a learning disability may not understand the significance of a healthy lifestyle, they may begin to show signs of ill health. This is where a live-in carer can help and recognise early symptoms of illness, maintain the importance of health screening and communicate the individual’s needs to a health professional.

Live-in carers will ensure that people with learning disabilities have opportunities to learn about their health and that such information is provided in ways that take communication difficulties into account. Secondly, people with severe learning and communication difficulties may not be able to express discomfort or pain in usual ways. Live-in carers are aware of this and will be sensitive to changes in behaviour or well being that indicate pain, illness or unhappiness.

A live-in carer can assist clients with learning disabilities who may need careful preparation and assistance with hospital appointments or admissions and require opportunities to familiarise themselves with places and procedures such as hospitals or specialised service providers or appointments with doctors.

In addition to ordinary health care needs, people with learning disabilities may have much greater special health care needs than the general population and these can be closely monitored and supported by a team of dedicated live -in carers who each get to know the client on a one-to-one basis.