Workforce redesign utilising advanced practice to improve the lifestyle and cognitive function of patients with alcohol‐related brain damage

Abstract

Alcohol‐related brain damage (ARBD) is an increasing challenge for service providers working with older people and adults. It has a complex aetiology and does not progress in the same way as other causes of dementia. The devastating effects of ARBD undermine a person's ability to lead an independent life, yet it is thought that with the right interventions, a degree of recovery can be seen in 75% of sufferers. People with ARBD do not neatly fit into an existing category of care; they ‘fall through the net’ at multiple points in the care pathway. Using a patient synopsis drawn from clinical practice the author illustrates the impact of an advanced practice role in relation to the nursing care of patients with ARBD, as well as making suggestions for the provision of education and support for mainstream services.

Citation

Dawber, R. (2010), "Workforce redesign utilising advanced practice to improve the lifestyle and cognitive function of patients with alcohol‐related brain damage", The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 5 No. 3, pp. 31-40. https://doi.org/10.5042/jmhtep.2010.0502