Older people with alcohol-related brain injury and associated complex behaviors: a psychosocial model of residential care (the Wicking Project)

The increasing need for specialist residential aged care services to support older people with complex behaviors resulting from dementia and alcohol-related brain injury was the impetus for the development of an exploratory action research trial. Affected individuals are commonly characterized by a unique set of needs and life circumstances that are not adequately or appropriately supported by currently available mainstream services. We discuss the synthesis, design, and key features of the research trial's specialized model which commenced in 2008 in Wintringham, Australia. The trial was recently completed in November 2009. Through the development of a specialized residential care model we aim to move one step closer to providing appropriate support to one of the most needing yet highly marginalized group of people.