Cognitive impairment guidelines for AOD services
Landmark guidelines published
Whakaohooho manawa ora: Cognitive screening and support in alcohol and other drug services Aotearoa New Zealand practice guidelines are the first New Zealand guidelines for identifying and supporting people’s cognitive impairment in alcohol and other drug (AOD) settings. This is an important document, for several reasons:
- Cognitive impairment may impact up to 80% of people accessing alcohol and other drug (AOD) services, but it frequently goes unrecognised.
- Recognising a person’s cognitive impairment and understanding their strengths is important for tailoring support and working in partnership to improve treatment outcomes for people accessing AOD services.
Guidance is needed to ensure that identifying cognitive impairment is done in a way that avoids unnecessary harm and trauma and upholds people’s mana.
The guidelines are primarily for workers in AOD services who have not had specialised training in cognitive screening and assessment. However, these guidelines may also be useful for the entire mental health and addiction workforce, workers in the community and primary care.
Background
Recognising a person’s cognitive impairment, and understanding their strengths, is important for tailoring support and working in partnership to improve treatment outcomes for people accessing AOD services.
In 2022, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora commissioned Te Pou to develop guidelines to help workers in alcohol and other drug (AOD) services to identify and support people experiencing cognitive impairment, and their whānau. Te Pou developed the guidelines in partnership with an external technical advisory group, and with wider sector input.