Your life and support · England
Health and hospital care
Feeling well, getting treatment and knowing when to ask for help.
106 guides to choose from.
106 guides in this topic.
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Everyday health
HealthKeeping warm safely
Stay warm safely and get help with dangerous cold or a cold home.
HealthKeeping cool in hot weather
Keep cool, follow your support plan and recognise a heat emergency.
HealthFood allergies and food that makes me unwell
Safe food, clear information and support with food allergies or coeliac disease.
Everyday lifeMasturbation and privacy
Respectful adult information about masturbation, private space, comfort, consent and getting support.
Work & volunteeringWhen I am too ill to work
Get help with absence, sick pay and a supported return to work.
Parents & family lifePregnancy and having a baby
Your choices, maternity care and practical support before and after birth.
Later lifeDementia, changes and getting support
Dementia is a name for symptoms caused by illnesses affecting the brain. Having a learning disability does not mean you will get dementia.
Mental healthHelp with skin picking
Understand repeated skin picking, accessible treatment and when skin damage needs medical help.
HealthHelp with wee and poo
Some people leak wee or poo. You can ask for help.
HealthLooking after your teeth
This guide is for people in England. Your teeth and mouth need care.
HealthHelp with sight and hearing
Ask for sight and hearing checks and everyday support.
HealthGetting help with constipation
Constipation means poo is hard to pass or you poo less often than usual. It can become very serious if it is not treated. Choose “More detail” for information for families and supporters.
HealthPica: eating things that are not food
Pica means repeatedly eating things that are not food. You can ask for help to stay safe.
HealthPeriods, menopause and your body
Periods and menopause can change how you feel. You can ask for information and support.
HealthGetting help with sleep
Sleep affects how you feel during the day. Support should fit your age, needs and choices.
HealthMaking reading more comfortable
Explore eye checks and ways to make reading more comfortable.
HealthAphasia and changes in language
Get help with changes in speaking or understanding language.
HealthFood plans for your health
Some health conditions need a special food plan. Your plan should fit your own needs.
HealthChoosing contraception
Explore contraception choices and where to get advice.
HealthEating and drinking well
Plan meals and drinks that suit your choices, budget and health.
HealthAsthma and my inhaler
Ask for an asthma plan, an inhaler you can use and support that fits your life.
HealthGetting help to stop smoking
Find accessible quitting support, discuss treatment and make a plan that you choose.
HealthGetting help with touching or smearing poo
Find respectful help with touching poo, health checks and toilet support.
Conditions & syndromesUnderstanding PKU
PKU is a health condition you are born with. A specialist team helps you manage it.
Getting care and staying safe
HealthGetting urgent health help
This guide is for people in England. Ask for help when someone becomes unwell.
Rights & choicesGetting information about you
Get information held about you and challenge mistakes or missing records.
Care & supportWhat is the CQC?
CQC is short for Care Quality Commission. This guide is about England.
HealthHelp at health appointments
This guide is about health appointments in England. You can ask for support that works for you.
HealthSwallowing and keeping your chest healthy
Some people find swallowing difficult. Ask for help if this happens to you.
HealthEpilepsy and seizures
Epilepsy can cause seizures. Different people have different seizures.
HealthHelp with alcohol and drugs
This guide is for adults and supporters in England. You can ask for help without being blamed.
HealthWhen I feel unwell
Notice changes, explain concerns and ask for the right health help.
Safety & safeguardingHelp after unwanted sexual contact
Find medical care and support after unwanted sexual contact.
Safety & safeguardingGetting support in prison and on probation
Know who can help with care, communication and returning to the community.
Health checks and treatment
Rights & choicesSeeing your records
Ask to see your records and get help to correct mistakes.
HealthYour GP register and yearly health check
Ask to join your GP’s learning disability register and arrange your yearly health check.
HealthChecking your medicines
Medicines can help with health problems. You can ask questions about your medicines.
HealthUnderstanding cancer screening
Screening checks for possible health problems before you feel unwell. This guide is about screening in England.
HealthGetting ready for tests and cancer care
A test can help doctors understand your health. Having a test does not always mean you have cancer.
HealthGetting help with diabetes
Diabetes affects the amount of sugar in your blood. You can get help to understand and manage it.
HealthAsking about a learning disability assessment
Find out how to ask for a learning disability assessment.
HealthAsking another doctor
You can ask questions about your care. You can ask for another medical opinion.
HealthTesting for sexual infections
Find free sexual infection tests, treatment and support.
HealthHelp with your medicines
Medicines can help you stay well. You can ask for help taking them safely.
HealthGetting your vaccinations
Vaccines help protect you from some infections. You can ask questions about them.
HealthMy blood pressure check
Understand blood pressure checks, ask for adjustments and agree what happens after the result.
HealthUnderstanding cancer and getting support
Understand cancer, treatment choices and accessible support.
Conditions & syndromesWhen you do not have a diagnosis
Find support when a condition has no diagnosis yet.
People who can help
HousingHelp with equipment and your home
This guide is for children and adults in England. An occupational therapist helps with everyday activities.
Communication & sensesSpeech and language therapy
This guide is for people in England. A speech and language therapist helps people communicate.
HealthPeople who can help with your health
This guide is for people in England. Different workers help with different things.
HealthHelp with food and nutrition
This guide is for people in England. A dietitian helps with food, drinks and nutrition.
HealthYour learning disability health team
Ask for specialist learning disability health support near you.
HealthSeeing your doctor
Prepare for a doctor’s appointment and ask for support.
HealthGetting help at a pharmacy
A pharmacist knows about medicines and health. You may also call the pharmacy a chemist.
Mental health and feelings
Mental health & feelingsLimerence: when thoughts about someone take over
Understand intense attachment, repeated thoughts, neurodivergence and support that respects everyone’s boundaries.
Mental health & feelingsRejection sensitivity and RSD
Understand strong reactions to rejection or criticism, the limits of the RSD label and ways to seek support.
Mental health & feelingsHoarding and support at home
Understand hoarding, find compassionate support and agree steps towards a safer, more usable home.
Mental health & feelingsGambling harm and support
Recognise gambling harm, find free support and choose practical steps that respect your decisions and rights.
Mental healthUnderstanding OCD
Understand unwanted thoughts, compulsions, assessment, accessible treatment and support.
Mental healthUnderstanding EUPD and BPD
Understand the names, assessment, intense emotions, treatment and respectful support.
Mental healthExhaustion and burnout
Understand burnout language, reduce overwhelming demands and get changes in health checked.
HealthARFID: when eating feels difficult
ARFID can make eating very difficult. This guide is for people and supporters in England.
HealthYour mental health and feelings
This guide is for people in England. People with learning disabilities can get help with their mental health.
Hearing voices, psychosis and schizophrenia
HealthI hear or see things other people do not
Get help with hearing voices or seeing things others do not.
HealthUnderstanding psychosis
Understand psychosis, early help and support for recovery.
HealthUnderstanding schizophrenia
Understand assessment, treatment and everyday support for schizophrenia.
Talking therapies
Understanding distress and trauma
Rights & choicesDoes my support plan respect me?
Your support should help you have a good life. This guide is for adults in England.
HealthBehaviour can tell people how you feel
Understand communication, health and support behind distress.
HealthFinding out what makes distress worse
Understand possible triggers and agree support that helps.
HealthCare that helps you feel safe
Find care that respects safety, choice, communication and personal experiences.
Mental health services and rights
Rights & choicesYour rights in a mental health hospital
This guide is about mental health hospitals in England. You can ask for help to understand your rights.
Rights & choicesA Community Treatment Order (CTO)
A Community Treatment Order is called a CTO. This information is about England.
Planning & supportCTR and CETR: a review of your care
CTR means Care and Treatment Review. CETR means Care, Education and Treatment Review. A CETR also looks at education.
HealthGoing into a mental health hospital
This guide is about mental health hospitals in England. Some specialist hospitals are called assessment and treatment units.
Neurological conditions and rehabilitation
HealthAcquired brain injury
Understand changes after a brain injury, ask for assessment and find support with everyday life.
HealthRehabilitation and everyday life
Understand rehabilitation, choose meaningful goals and plan coordinated support after illness or injury.
HealthMultiple sclerosis: MS
Understand MS, changing symptoms, specialist treatment and support with everyday life.
HealthParkinson’s and parkinsonism
Understand the different terms, changing symptoms, treatment and the importance of Parkinson’s medicine timings.
Movement and comfort
HealthGoing swimming
Plan an enjoyable swim, find suitable lessons and understand pool and open-water safety.
HealthGoing to the gym
Plan a gym visit, learn how to use equipment and find a comfortable pace with suitable support.
HealthMoving more and feeling well
Find walking groups, parkrun, adapted cycling and ways to move that suit you.
Everyday lifeClothes that work for you
Your clothes should feel comfortable. You should have choices about what you wear.
Everyday lifeBeing a little person
Some people use the words little person or dwarfism. You can choose the words you prefer.
HealthHelp with moving and comfort
This guide is for people in England. Physiotherapy can help with movement, posture and pain.
HealthGetting a wheelchair assessment
This guide is for people in England. A wheelchair might help you move around.
HealthShowing pain without words
You can show pain without speaking. People should take your pain seriously.
HealthSitting comfortably and looking after your body
Your chair should help you feel comfortable. It should help you do things you enjoy.
HealthFalls and looking after my bones
Ask for help with falls, balance and bone health while keeping the activities you enjoy.
HealthLooking after my feet
Get help with foot comfort, skin, nails, footwear and the right assessment.
Conditions & syndromesLiving with cerebral palsy
Learn about cerebral palsy and support with everyday life.
Hospital care and learning from deaths
Later lifeLiving well with a serious illness
Some illnesses may shorten a person’s life. There can still be good days and important goals.
HealthGoing into hospital
Plan your support in hospital and your return home.
HealthGetting help if someone is worse
Hospital staff need to know if someone is getting worse. You can speak up.
HealthA nurse who helps with hospital support
This information is about hospitals in England. Ask about the learning disability liaison nurse.
HealthLearning from someone’s life and death
When someone dies, their care can be reviewed. LeDeR helps services learn how to give better care.
HealthVisiting friends and relatives
Visit friends and relatives in residential homes, nursing homes, hospitals and hospices.
NHS care funding and decisions
Rights & choicesYour local NHS board
Your area has an integrated care board. People call it the ICB.
Care & supportNHS money for your care
This guide explains adult care funding in England. The adult rules start when you are 18.
Care & supportFree support after some mental health hospital stays
Some people can get free mental health aftercare. This is called section 117 aftercare.
Care & supportGetting ready for a CHC Checklist
CHC means NHS Continuing Healthcare. It can pay for some adults’ care.
Care & supportWhen you disagree about CHC
CHC means NHS Continuing Healthcare. It can pay for some adults’ care. You can challenge a decision you disagree with.
HealthNHS budgets and paying for therapy
Discuss therapy and training costs in your NHS care plan and personal health budget.
Health and care news
Find support that works for you
Ask for health information and appointments that work for you. Tell staff about changes from your usual health.