Although government policy is clearly committed to ensuring that as many people with learning difficulties as possible should be enabled to live in community settings, little is known about the suitability and quality of community services for older people with learning difficulties.

Detailed studies of the experiences of older people with learning difficulties using services in five localities were conducted in order to identify and promote good practice examples in service provision. The recommendations in this report focus on the wants, needs and desirable services as perceived by older service users and their social networks, as well as service managers and carers.