The impact of alcohol use in community-dwelling older adults.
The purpose of this study was to explore the use of alcohol in community-dwelling older adults and to consider differences in physical and mental health, function, cognitive status, and social supports between those who drink minimal (1 to 3 glasses weekly), moderate (4 to 7 glasses weekly), or no alcohol. A total of 3305 older adults with a mean age of 81.6 -/+ 6.0 participated in the study. Twenty-two percent (n = 709) of the participants had 1 to 3 drinks weekly, only 1% (n = 18) reported 4 to 7 drinks weekly, and none of the participants admitted to 8 or more drinks. There was no difference in drinking behavior with regard to age (F = 1.1, p >.05) or social supports (F =.39, p >.05). There was a difference in drinking behavior with regard to physical health (F = 4.9, p <.05), functional status (F = 7.7, p <.05), cognitive status (F = 11.8, p <.05), and mental health (F = 6.9, p <.05). Health care providers should use an individualized approach to alcohol use in older adults and help these individuals establish, as appropriate, safe drinking habits that will augment health and quality of life.
Resnick
Barbara
B
University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. bresnick@umaryland.edu
Perry
Diane
D
Applebaum
Gary
G
Armstrong
Linda
L
Cotterman
Marjorie
M
Dillman
Suzanne
S
Elliott
Susan
S
McCarthy
Marie
M
Narrett
Matthew
M
Parrish
Sherry
S
Parrish
John H
JH
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008603:Mental Health; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014768:Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology