Cognitive impairment guidelines
Supporting the alcohol and other drug (AOD) workforce to better recognise cognitive impairment, helping them to improve support, treatment and outcomes for people accessing their services.
Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
About this item
- Issue date:
- 25 October 2024
- Status:
- Current
- Corporate Authors:
- Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, Te Pou,
- Type:
- Guide,
- Topic:
- Addiction, Mental health,
- Copyright status:
© Crown Copyright, Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
- ISBN:
- 978-1-991139-13-9 (online)
About the cognitive impairment guidelines
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora has released New Zealand’s first guidelines to identify and support people with cognitive impairment who access alcohol and other drug (AOD) services.
Cognitive impairment may impact up to 80% of people accessing 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 those accessing AOD services.
The new guidelines are primarily for workers in AOD services who haven’t had specialised training in cognitive screening and assessment.
They may also be useful for the wider mental health and addiction workforce plus workers in other community and primary care settings.
Health NZ commissioned Te Pou, a not-for-profit national workforce development centre, to create the new guidelines, which were developed in partnership with an external technical advisory group and with wider sector input.
Download: Whakaohooho manawa ora: Cognitive screening and support in alcohol & other drugs - PDF, 3.4 MB
Aotearoa New Zealand practice guidelines: September 2024
Download: Whakaohooho manawa ora: Cognitive screening and support in alcohol & other drugs - DOCX, 8.3 MB
Aotearoa New Zealand practice guidelines: September 2024