Alcohol use in care homes

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Promoting good practice in relation to alcohol use in care homes for older people

• IRAS ID

  289293

• Contact name

  Sarah Wadd

• Contact email

  sarah.wadd@beds.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Bedfordshire

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 11 months, 30 days

• Research summary

  For many older people, drinking alcohol brings pleasure and relaxation. For some, it brings substantial risks owing to the way that alcohol affects our bodies as we age and the medications we take. People living in care homes belong to all these groups, and yet care homes seem to have little in the way of policies or practices to guide them. Care home staff are often unprepared to assess alcohol use or to judge whether a wish to continue drinking alcohol could be harmful.

  This study will gather the evidence to chart a course through these difficult issues, with the aim of producing guidance for care homes that both respect the rights of older people to consume alcohol but also reduce the risk of harm to their health and wellbeing.

  We will undertake an intensive study of 12 care homes, gathering the views of residents, family members and staff and observing key events where alcohol plays a part (for example, wine at mealtimes). We will then set this into the wider context by undertaking a telephone survey of 150 care homes.
  Once we have a picture of existing alcohol-related practice and policies, we will be able to work out what needs to change. We will have a better evidence base to propose practical solutions to, for example, screening people for alcohol use on admission. We will be able to propose how staff can develop the skills, for example, deciding when and how to act where alcohol use poses a risk of harm. In this way, the study aims to contribute to a care home culture where there is a balance between keeping people safe and allowing people to live their lives as they wish.
  

• REC name

  Social Care REC

• REC reference

  20/IEC08/0032

• Date of REC Opinion

  2 Feb 2021

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion