Caregivers' reflections on their interactions with adult people with learning disabilities

Abstract

People with learning disabilities and their professional carers often have difficulty interacting. The aim of this study was to illuminate carers' reflections on their interactions with adult people with learning disabilities. In a previous study, interactions between 16 carers and 11 residents with learning disabilities were recorded on video. In this study, stimulated recall interviews about the interactions were carried out with all the carers. The text was analysed using qualitative content analysis. The findings indicate that the carers reflected on both successful and unsuccessful interaction. Examples of successful interaction included understanding cues, satisfying needs, and managing challenging behaviours, and the carers reflected on the influences that successful interaction had on security, confidence, and satisfaction among the residents. Examples of unsuccessful interaction included failing to understand cues, failing to satisfy needs and failing to manage challenging behaviours, and the carers reflected on the consequences of such interaction, which included irritation, aggression and violence among the residents. Our findings have implications for interventions aimed at strengthening the competence of carers and developing strategies for managing challenging behaviour, in order to ensure high-quality care and a good working climate.