Frequently Asked Questions

About ARBD and Korsakoff’s Syndrome

Q: What exactly is ARBD / Korsakoff’s Syndrome? I keep hearing different terms.

ARBD stands for Alcohol-Related Brain Damage: it’s an umbrella term for a range of conditions caused by long-term excessive alcohol use combined with poor nutrition, particularly a lack of Vitamin B1 (thiamine). Wernicke-Korsakoff’s Syndrome is one of the most well-known forms of ARBD. Unlike Alzheimer’s and some other forms of dementia, people with ARBD who remain abstinent and receive the right support can make a full or partial recovery, which is one of the most hopeful things about this condition. You can read a lot more on our What is ARBD? page and our What is Wernicke-Korsakoff’s Syndrome? page.

Q: What does “confabulation” mean? Someone mentioned it in relation to a family member’s diagnosis.

Confabulation is something that often occurs in people with Korsakoff’s Syndrome and other forms of ARBD. It’s where the brain unconsciously fills in gaps in memory with information that isn’t accurate, but crucially, the person isn’t lying. They genuinely believe what they’re saying. It can be very confusing and sometimes upsetting for families. We have a page explaining confabulation in more detail, which many families find very helpful to read.

Getting help

Q: I know someone who is drinking too much and I think they might have Korsakoff’s Syndrome: can you help?

We may well be able to. Please give us a call on 01227 860516 and ask to speak to Rod or Bobbie Tarry. Even if the person isn’t yet ready for residential support, we can often point you in the right direction and give you some practical advice that might help in the meantime. We will always do our best. It might also be worth having a read of our page on what ARBD and Korsakoff’s Syndrome actually are — many families find it helps them understand what they’re seeing and why.

Q: The person I’m worried about is still drinking heavily. How do I help them stop?

This is one of the hardest situations a family member or friend can find themselves in, and we want to be honest with you: there is no easy answer. Ultimately, a person has to want to stop, but that doesn’t mean you’re helpless while you wait for that moment to arrive.

First and most importantly — do not let them stop suddenly without medical supervision. If someone has been drinking heavily for a long time, abruptly stopping can cause dangerous or even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms including seizures, severe anxiety, sweating and hallucinations. If the person has become physically dependent and needs to stop drinking completely, stopping overnight could be harmful — they should get medical advice first. The first call should be to their GP, or to a local alcohol support service.

Where to get help:

Their GP is always the best first port of call. A GP can provide confidential advice and refer the person for extra support, including local community alcohol services.
Drinkline — the national alcohol helpline — is free and confidential. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm) if you’re worried about your own or someone else’s drinking.
Alcoholics Anonymous — a free self-help group with meetings across the UK. Their helpline is open 24/7 on 0800 9177 650, and you can also email them or live chat via their website.
Alcohol Change UK — a leading UK charity with excellent information, a local service finder, and support for both the person drinking and those around them.
Drinkaware — practical, evidence-based advice and a tool to help assess how much risk someone’s drinking may be causing.
SMART Recovery — an alternative to AA that uses a science-based approach, with both face-to-face and online meetings supporting individuals and family members.
Al-Anon — specifically for you, the family member or friend. Al-Anon offers support meetings across the UK for anyone whose life is affected by someone else’s drinking, plus a confidential helpline.

Q: Does the person need to have stopped drinking before they come to you?

Yes. People join us once they have been medically stabilised. We operate a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol and illegal drugs across our whole community; this gives every person the best possible chance of recovery and a fresh start. If someone is still actively drinking, the first step is to get the right medical help. Please call us on 01227 860516 and we can talk through what that pathway might look like.

Q: I live with someone who has been diagnosed with Korsakoff’s Syndrome or another form of ARBD. I want to support them at home. Do you have any tips?

First of all, well done. They are lucky to have you still in their life as many people find themselves alone by this point. Supporting someone at home with a diagnosis is hard, so our first piece of advice is to make sure you are looking after yourself too. Being a caregiver is extraordinarily draining, and you cannot pour from an empty jug. Second, we have put together a whole page of practical guidance written specifically for people in exactly your situation: you can find it here: How to support someone with ARBD at home. And please remember, when it all gets too much, we are here. You do not have to do this alone.

Q: How does someone get referred to you? Do they need a GP or social worker to refer them?

Referrals can come from a variety of sources: GPs, social workers, community mental health teams, hospital discharge teams, or concerned family members. You don’t need to go through a formal channel to make an initial enquiry. Anyone, whether a professional, family member, or the individual themselves, is welcome to get in touch with us directly. Call 01227 860516 and ask for Rod or Bobbie Tarry, or use our contact page.

Q: Who do you support? Is the person I’m worried about the sort of person you help?

The people we support at Elizabeth House and Artichoak Cottage have been admitted with a primary diagnosis of Korsakoff’s Syndrome, alcohol-related dementia, ARBD, or a similar condition. Most are in their 40s and 50s, and many were professionals with successful careers before their addiction took hold. Their main challenges are typically poor short-term memory and a lack of insight into their condition, both of which are very characteristic of Korsakoff’s Syndrome. We support more men than women at present, though we welcome enquiries about anyone who might benefit. You can read more about who we support here. If you’re not sure whether someone fits our service, just give us a call, we’re happy to talk it through.

Living with us

Q: What does a typical day look like for someone living with you?

There’s no single “typical” day, as our support is tailored to each person, but life here is full and purposeful. People are encouraged to take regular exercise (including daily walks whatever the weather), take part in work-based skills activities like gardening, decorating and cooking, and enjoy social activities ranging from pool and table tennis to arts and crafts, book groups and current affairs discussions. We have a full-size pool table, beautiful gardens across all sites, and access to computers and broadband. The focus is always on rebuilding confidence, developing living skills, and having something meaningful to look forward to. You can read much more about what we offer here.

Q: How long do people stay with you?

The honest answer is that it varies enormously, and that’s because every person who comes to us arrives with a different history, a different level of damage, and a different set of things to work towards. Some people are ready to move on after a few months. For others, the process takes considerably longer: there is more to relearn, and when your short-term memory is significantly impaired, learning anything new is genuinely hard work and takes real patience. What we can tell you is that progress does happen. On average, around 10% of the people we support each year move into less supported accommodation, either within our own programme or out into the wider community. You can read more about our approach to recovery on the road back to independence.

Q: What happens when someone is ready to leave? Do you just discharge them?

Not at all. We offer a full rehabilitation programme for people who are ready to move towards more independent or supported living. Artichoak Cottage itself is specifically designed as a stepping stone, a place where people can practise greater independence while still being part of our extended community. When someone does move on, we work hard to make sure the transition is carefully planned and that the right support is in place for them in their next home. You can read more about our approach on the road back to independence.

Q: What is the difference between Elizabeth House, Artichoak Cottage, and Roberta House?

Elizabeth House and Artichoak Cottage are in close proximity in the village of Upstreet, near Canterbury in Kent, and together form the main Upstreet Project community. Artichoak Cottage is particularly designed for people who are ready for greater independence but would like to remain part of our extended community while they prepare to move on. You can read more about Elizabeth House, Artichoak Cottage, and Roberta House on our website.

Q: Can we come and have a look around?

We love that you want to — and we want to show you. But this question deserves a thoughtful answer. Elizabeth House and Artichoak Cottage are genuinely home to the people who live here, and we take their privacy and dignity every bit as seriously as you’d want someone to take yours. Neither of us would welcome a stranger wandering through our lounge or bedroom without permission, would we? With that in mind, a quick and respectful walk through the communal areas and gardens is usually very welcome, depending on the day and what’s going on, but always with the knowledge and comfort of the people who live here. Our team will be happy to answer any questions you have and you’re more than welcome to join us for lunch in the offices.

We should also mention that we offer a free trial period to prospective residents, so they can get a genuine feel for life here before making any permanent decision. This is only possible when a room is available, so please get in touch to find out more.

Fees and funding

Q: How much does it cost to stay with you?

Our fees, like everything else about the support we provide, are dependent on the needs of the individual : there truly is no one-size-fits-all approach here. If you’d like to talk through whether we might be able to help someone you know, please call 01227 860516 and ask to speak to Rod or Bobbie Tarry. We can give you a much better sense of likely fees once we understand a little more about the person’s situation, but we can only provide an exact figure after we have met and assessed them in person. There is no charge for this assessment anywhere in mainland England, Scotland, or Wales. Please do get in touch — we’re very happy to talk.

Q: Does it matter whether someone is privately funded or funded by the state?

Not at all, we welcome both privately funded individuals and those whose care is funded by a local authority or the NHS. What matters to us is the person and whether we can genuinely help them, not how their fees are paid. Our fees are the same regardless of funding source; as we mentioned above, they are based entirely on the needs of the individual rather than on any other factor.

If you are privately funding a placement, we are happy to talk you through costs as part of an initial conversation. If you are exploring state funding, this can potentially come through local authority social care budgets, NHS Continuing Healthcare, or a combination of both — and we are happy to discuss this with you too. A social worker or GP should be able to advise on what the person may be eligible for, and we can support that conversation where we can.

In all cases, the starting point is the same, so please give us a call on 01227 860516 and ask for Rod or Bobbie Tarry, or visit our contact page. We’ll take it from there.

Q: Can funding be arranged through the NHS or local authority?

Funding for residential care like ours can potentially come from a number of sources including local authority social care budgets, NHS Continuing Healthcare funding, or a combination of both. The pathway can feel complex, but a social worker or GP should be able to advise on what the person may be eligible for. We are happy to talk you through this as part of an initial conversation: please call us on 01227 860516 or use our contact page.

Vacancies and waiting list

Q: Do you have any vacancies?

It’s unusual for us to have a vacancy, as we have a very active waiting list. That said, it isn’t quite as straightforward as pure first-come-first-served, because the first person on the list may not be the right fit for the first room that becomes available, depending on a number of factors. The best thing to do is get in touch with us so we can tell you where things stand and, where appropriate, add you to the list.

Working with us

Q: Are you recruiting?

Our team is very stable at the moment, which we’re proud of. Continuity matters enormously to the people we support. That said, we are always interested to hear from people who’d like to work with us, particularly those with a background in a similar field. Please get in touch with Helen Ransley at helenransley@theupstreetproject.org.uk to find out about any current opportunities, or take a look at our Working with us page.

The Upstreet Project

Supporting individuals with ARBD and Korsakoff's Syndrome

Frequently Asked Questions