Although its symptoms are similar to dementia, Alcohol Related Brain Damage (ARBD) is not a degenerative illness. 75% of people diagnosed with ARBD will make some form of recovery. To recover it is vital that individuals abstain from alcohol completely.
Borders Alcohol and Drugs Partnership (Borders ADP) commissioned an independent needs assessment and audit of services for individuals, families and carers of individuals with Alcohol Related Brain Damage (ARBD) which was finalised in March 2013. The work focused on identifying best practice, estimating prevalence, assessing current provision, identifying gaps and identifying improvements to services and arrangements.
The summary of the report’s findings identified that the current numbers of individuals with ARBD, although not high were likely to grow and that there are people currently not diagnosed and therefore not known to services or being counted: services were providing support but not in a coordinated way, no formal planned assessment approach was in place; there was a lack of proper facilities to meet the needs of individuals with an ARBD when needed as well as inconsistent referring.
The ARBD Coordinator was appointed in April 2017 through funding from the Integrated Care Fund (April 2017 to September 2018) to take forward the recommendations of the 2013 needs assessment and service review, to scope best practice throughout the Borders, Scotland and Nationwide.
Following an ARBD conference held in November 2017 the conference report and evaluation is now available - Alcohol Related Brain Damage Conference - 8th November 2017
An ARBD Integrated Care Pathway has also been developed and will be published and implemented in the near future, this will be supported by the ARBD steering group. Keep checking this site for a launch date.
Download ARBD poster here: Consider Alcohol Related Brain Damage
For further information on ARBD, a leaflet is also available to support individuals, families and carers. Click here to download the leaflet.