Our guide on supported living for adults with a learning disability

Whether you’re looking into supported living for yourself, a family member, or someone you care for professionally, it’s essential to understand what learning disabilities are, how they can affect daily life, and how the right support can make a meaningful difference.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about supported living for people with learning disabilities, from understanding the causes and challenges of learning disabilities to discovering how organisations like Lifeways provide person-centred support.

What is a learning disability?

A learning disability is a neurological condition that affects the brain’s ability to send, receive and process information. This means that people with a learning disability may find it harder when it comes to reading, writing, speaking, listening and learning daily life skills. 

Learn about the services Lifeways provides for learning disabilities here.

What learning disabilities are there?

There are different types and severities of learning disabilities, which means that everyone will experience slightly different challenges, including:

• Undertaking household tasks or chores.
• Understanding new or complicated information.
• Learning new skills.
• Socialising with other people.
• Thriving on their own.
• Managing money.

How many people in the UK have a learning disability?

According to Mencap, in the UK, around 1 in 50 people live with a learning disability, which is around 1.5 million people in total. 

People with learning disabilities are more likely to live in supported living accommodation. Read our blog to find out more about what supported living is.

What can cause a learning disability?

A learning disability is the result of something affecting the development of the brain either before birth, during birth or in early childhood. 

Many different factors can cause a learning disability, some of which include:

• A lack of oxygen during birth due to complications.
• An inherited condition that affects the development of the brain.
• A very premature birth.
• An illness or injury during early childhood that affects brain development.
• Mother’s illness during pregnancy.

However, there may not always be a known cause for a learning disability. Certain conditions are often associated with having a learning disability, including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

What is the difference between a learning disability and a learning difficulty?

A learning disability is a neurological condition that affects a person’s learning and intelligence in all areas of their life. 

A learning difficulty refers to a condition that makes it harder for a person to learn a specific life skill or topic.

How many people with a learning disability also have a mental health condition?

At Lifeways, ongoing training for colleagues who work with people with learning disabilities is of key importance. People with a learning disability often have poorer physical and mental health than other people, and may find it harder to access healthcare. That’s why our support colleagues are trained to be able to recognise potential signs and symptoms of deteriorating health so they can seek early medical intervention.

How might an individual feel if they have a learning disability?

As the type and severity of learning disabilities differ, the difficulties a person may experience also differ. Each person with a learning disability is unique, meaning they will require a different level of support.  

What is a mild learning disability?

Someone with a mild learning disability may only require support with tasks such as finding employment or assistance with completing forms or documentation. 

What is a severe learning disability? 

Someone with more complex needs due to a severe learning disability may require support with various aspects of their life, including everyday tasks such as personal care, cleaning, and cooking.

At Lifeways, we believe that labels should not define people. One person is not the same as someone else with the same learning disability.

How to diagnose a learning disability in adults and children?
Some learning disabilities are diagnosed at a young age, while others might not be discovered until the individual is older. 

Often, parents or teachers may first become aware that a child is having difficulties in specific ways, such as progressing in classwork or socialising with other pupils.

In the UK, a GP or another qualified health professional will usually make a diagnosis of a learning disability. 

If you have concerns about the development of the person you support, you should contact your GP, who can offer advice and refer you to a specialist if necessary. 

Is there a 'treatment' for a learning disability? 
There is no ‘cure’ for learning disabilities. This means that people with learning disabilities set achievable outcomes and work on their goals, like anyone else, instead of seeking to ‘not have’ learning disabilities.
Many people with learning disabilities thrive and live healthy, fulfilling lives. A successful outcome for someone with learning disabilities may involve both maintenance (keeping up with the progress that’s been achieved) and development of new skills.
At Lifeways, our support teams know it’s important not to stifle someone’s goals by being risk-averse. This means we work to support each individual with opportunities to gain greater independence (when they want to) through the person-centred support they receive. 

What is supported living for adults with learning disabilities? 

Supported living for people with a learning disability enables people to live as independently as possible. Discover what our support for adults with learning disabilities entails. 

Everyone has the independence of their supported living accommodation, but with the reassurance of extra support when it’s needed. 

The amount of support provided depends on each person’s unique needs - it could be just a few hours a week, through to 24/7 guidance and/or support. 

There are several benefits to choosing supported living, including greater independence and tailored support and care. Read about all of them in our article.

How do Lifeways support people with a learning disability?

Many of Lifeways’ 1,100 services support adults aged 18 and upwards who live with learning disabilities. 

• At Lifeways, we recognise that people with a learning disability may face challenges in various aspects of their lives. However, we also recognise that they have huge potential, with unique hopes, dreams and aspirations, which should always be listened to. 
• We make sure that the people we support feel understood and are encouraged to live the most meaningful life possible. We are proud to help and support people to lead more fulfilling lives, often achieving the most amazing things.
• We offer various support options tailored to the level of support required, including supported living and residential care. 
• Our locations are specially adapted to help people live as independently as possible, incorporating assistive technology wherever possible to make lives safer and easier.

Interested in our residential care services? See what they involve today. 

Who delivers support with learning disabilities at Lifeways' services?
Around 10,000 people work for Lifeways, with many of our support teams specially trained to support individuals living with learning disabilities.
Our learning disabilities training for colleagues begins with a comprehensive induction programme. 

After this initial training is completed, Lifeways delivers training that’s either focused on an individual or is specific to a service. This deeper level of training makes sure our support teams are fully equipped with all the tools they need to support people effectively.

Ongoing learning and development opportunities for support colleagues 
Training for our support teams doesn’t stop there. For ongoing learning and development, every Lifeways support colleague has access to a secure online, comprehensive learning platform, My Lifeways Learning. We also offer bespoke training in person.

The online platform enables colleagues to access learning, stay up-to-date as people’s needs and best practices change, and support their personal development. 

Craig's story about the learning disability support he receives at Lifeways 

Craig lives with learning disabilities and is on the autism spectrum. 

In his mid-teens, he was bullied, which affected his self-esteem. “Craig was having a challenging time,” says his mum, Sandra. “My biggest worry was about the level of support Craig needed.” 

Finding the right support through Lifeways has changed Craig’s life. His support worker has helped him learn how to use specialist software to organise his daily schedule, keeping track of his activities week by week, and supporting him in planning for the future.

To find out more about how Lifeway’s helped, read Craig’s story here.

Lifeways supported living near you

At Lifeways, we’re proud to support people who live with a range of complex conditions, including learning disabilities, autism, acquired brain injuries, physical disabilities and mental health conditions. Everything we do is tailored to the unique needs of each individual.

If you would like to find out more information or have any questions about support for people living with learning disabilities, please contact our friendly team.

Additional Resources:

•    Download our guide on supporting people who live with learning disabilities.

•    Find out about the difference between supported living and residential care.