3 Step Enablement

Care, support and hope for people with alcohol-related brain damage

We provide care and support for people living with ‘Alcohol Related Brain Damage’(ARBD) in three specialist cares homes in Weston-Super-Mare, North Somerset and Torquay, Devon. We’re one of the few care home providers in the UK registered for people living with the effects of abuse of alcohol, ‘past and present’.

We’re one of the even fewer residential support services, who can provide specialist care for those affected by alcohol-related brain damage. Including Korsakoff’s syndrome and Wernicke’s encephalopathy (otherwise known as ‘Wernicke-Korsakoff’s Syndrome’).

When an individual comes to stay in one of our specialist ARBD homes, we provide them with a support plan. This plan seeks to enable individuals to go back into the community and to support them to live as independently as they can.

With over 30 years’ expertise in this field, we have combined our knowledge and experience to develop a way ahead which is designed to help an individual take back control of their life and help them regain skills to live independently and alcohol-free. We have developed a positive and flexible approach working with commissioners of care to provide care and support solutions that also provide value for money.

We have a variety of services from long term specialist support, to respite periods and potentially daycare. We also operate a home care agency for those individuals living in the broader community of Somerset and surrounding areas, through which we can offer continuing care and support.

Due to the diversity, complexity and fluctuation of individual needs, people with ARBD require a person-centred approach. Individuals progress at different rates and in different ways. We aim to work with commissioners to maximise their potential to move towards a contented, sustainable and fulfilling level of independence.

We thoroughly assess each individual monthly (or sooner if needs change), through on-going assessments, monitoring and reviews. Recovery is measured in terms of improved cognitive functioning, physical ability and quality of life. It is important to emphasise that a large percentage of this group of people, could have the chance of some recovery if they are identified at an early stage and appropriate intervention is offered.

The specific skill areas we consider and assess regularly;

  • Personal Hygiene & Self Care
  • Social Development Skills
  • Communication Skills
  • Personal Mobility & Safety Skills
  • Household Living Skills

We look and review how far an individual has come with undertaking tasks independently or if they still assistance by a support worker. We are then able to adjust their support plan accordingly to match their level of independence.

The idea is to move them from ‘Step 1’ requiring substantial support to ‘Step 3’ where skills learnt can be consistently used with little or no assistance. Through our care agency, we can offer continued support to an individual if they progress enough to live more independently in the wider community.

ARBD, such as Korsakoff’s Syndrome, holds many challenges for everyone concerned. We continue to expand our knowledge and understanding of the condition by continuously working with this client group,  and incorporating ongoing training & development. By doing so, we can provide services that will more effectively improve the lives of those living with it and help more return to their homes, families and communities.