Alcohol addiction treatments for home resident in Switzerland: review and results of a transectional study

TL;DR

This study examines alcohol addiction among elderly home residents in Switzerland, finding that many have problematic drinking but lack specialized care or staff training.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into alcohol addiction management in Swiss nursing homes and highlights the lack of staff training and specialized care for elderly residents.

Findings

Most nursing homes identified 4-5 residents with problematic alcohol consumption.

Staff generally lack specific addiction training and do not perceive a need for it.

Residents are often allowed to continue drinking to avoid withdrawal, despite health risks.

Abstract

In Switzerland, alcohol consumption is even decreasing, with an exception for old people after retirement.35%of them have a heavy or addictive consumption (OFSP, consommation d’alcool en Suisse, fait et chiffres. 01.2023). This is also the case for home residents.

The alcohol consumption by old poeple has negatives consequences on the health (falls, fractures, cognitives disorders).

The autors conduct a crossectionnal enquiry in the homes of Fribourg area to identify addictive behaviour and different existing supports. After a review, the authors present the results of their enquiry

Identify how much home-residents have a problematic or an addictive alcohol problem

Identify if there is existing support

Hinghligthing the training need for the staff

Crossectionnal enquiry was sent in 42 Home of the Fribourg area, with 3 relances

The premliminary result will be completed at the end of 2023:Every home identify at leat 4-5 residents with a problematic alcohol consumptionMost of them, the staff have no specific addictive trainig and no needs for itThe staff authorise alcohol consumption in the home, to avoid alcohol withdrawalThe psychiatric consultant in the home can help the staff to manage the counter-attitudes

Every home identify at leat 4-5 residents with a problematic alcohol consumption

Most of them, the staff have no specific addictive trainig and no needs for it

The staff authorise alcohol consumption in the home, to avoid alcohol withdrawal

The psychiatric consultant in the home can help the staff to manage the counter-attitudes

Home residents are not eligible for specialized addictive care, whil the generally respond well to motivationnal interviewing or to controlled consumption. The lack of staff training could be an hypothesis. The lack of interest in the neagtives conséquences oh alcool on th health of people at the enf of their lives is anothers hypothesis

Nursing home residents are not eligible for specialized addictive care. The enquiry results are astonishing: no need of specialized training, authorization of continous drinking in the different homes, while the literature points the effectivnesse of motivationnal interviewing or controlled approaches by old people with addictive disorders.

Further studies are needed, ethical consideration on the management of alcohol addiction in the elderly should be proposed.

None Declared