TAILIEUCHUNG - Alcohol & the Elderly: IAS Factsheet

Although alcohol is a brain sedative and promotes sleep, it actually reduces the amount of quality rapid eye movement (REM) sleep which we need to be fully rested and increases slow wave sleep. Its sedative effect lessens as the night progresses, arousal from sleep and continued wakefulness being likely to occur when the blood alcohol concentration approaches zero. Like other people, the elderly may have recourse to alcohol and prescribed drugs to help them cope with stress, anxiety and depression. However, recent research has suggested that for some people alcohol, even in relatively moderate quantities, actually makes things worse, prolonging rather than reducing the problem | nstitute of Alcohol Studies Alcohol the Elderly1 IAS Factsheet Produced by the Institute of Alcohol Studies 1 The Quay St Ives Cambs. PE27 5AR Tel 01480 466766 Fax 01480 497583 Email info@ Website http IAS FACTSHEET - ALCOHOL THE ELDERLY - PAGE 1 OF 7 CONTENTS The size of the problem 3 Changing patterns of consumption 3 Health benefits of alcohol 4 Elderly drinkers 4 Reasons for drinking - how older people may use alcohol 4 Consequences of drinking for the older person 5 Interaction with other drugs 5 Sleep 6 The diagnosis of alcohol problems in the elderly 6 Alcohol services for the elderly 6 Alcohol and older people seminar 7 References 7 IAS FACTSHEET - ALCOHOL THE ELDERLY - PAGE 2 OF 7 The WHO Charter has been signed by all the Member States of the EU including the UK. The World Health Organization s European Charter on Alcohol states the following All people with hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption and members of their families have the right to accessible treatment and care. The WHO Charter has been signed by all the Member States of the EU including the UK. The Size of the Problem A recent government health survey found that 1 to 5 per cent of elderly people who drank more than occasionally were problem drinkers reporting significant psychological and or physical dependence on alcohol. Other studies have found higher proportions of elderly problem drinkers especially in men. One found 5 - 12 per cent of men in their 60 s to have alcohol problems. Another possible measure is the proportion of older people exceeding government recommended sensible limits for regular consumption although there is a question as to whether the limits are appropriate for the elderly as they are based on evidence relating to younger age groups. Older people may be more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol - see below. The 1994 General Household Survey found that in those aged 65 and over 17 of men and 7 of women exceeded the sensible limits of regular

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