Alcohol-related brain damage: knowledge and attitudes of frontline care staff

Key findings

• There is lack of awareness about ARBD in Scotland but it is likely to become an increasing issue both for individuals and for service providers and profes­sionals. Greater awareness of ARBD needs to be prompted through health promotion campaigns and other dissemination processes.
• The staff interviewed in this project have a wealth of experience of working directly with people with ARBD, however, they lacked specific knowledge on the medical and treatment aspects of the condition. The staff had received little or no training on ARBD. This indicates a need for training and informa­tion on ARBD for these staff and those in other care services providing care for people with ARBD. The knowledge of the experienced staff in this study could be drawn on to further develop training packages.
• Another major issue examined within the project was that of managing alco­hol in care homes. This was approached in very different ways by different homes although there was consensus on the fact that alcohol should be con­trolled within care homes to some degree. The management of alcohol ap­pears to depend on the understanding and opinions of care home managers. Further research on the management of alcohol in care homes is needed to ensure residents’ needs are met and their rights are protected.