“I started drinking more when my husband died.” “I found I was bored when I retired and started drinking to while away the hours.” “I felt desperately lonely in the evenings and having a drink filled the void.”
These are just some of the reasons for drinking more in later life we hear every day at Drink Wise, Age Well; a project which helps people to make healthier choices about alcohol as they age.
For most people getting older has many positives both personally and socially. From having more time on their hands to do the things they enjoy, to making a huge contribution to society in volunteering and caring roles. However, there are a growing number of older adults who are drinking more, often to cope with difficult life events. In fact at least one in three older adults who have an alcohol problem develop this in later life due to bereavement, retirement and a loss of purpose in life; things most of us will experience at some stage.
The media often presents the problem around alcohol as young people binging and causing chaos in town and city centres at weekends. But the over 50s are as likely as younger people to drink at harmful levels and also tend to drink more often than younger age-groups however much of their drinking is done at home, behind closed doors. More than 70% of the people we support at Drink Wise, Age Well drink at home alone, so for them it is not a sociable event. It’s the opposite, in fact. A very high proportion say they feel lonely and socially isolated. There is also a level of stigma and shame around older adults with alcohol problems, which can be a barrier to them getting help.
We will all start to get wrinkles and grey hairs as we get older and ageing is an inevitable part of our life cycle. However part of the ageing process means we are at increased risk of alcohol harm due to our bodies not being able to process alcohol as well as we used to, so hangovers will start to hit a little harder. We are also more likely to be taking medication and there are significant risks in mixing alcohol with medicines including increased risk of falls, increased blood pressure, gastrointestinal bleeding, drowsiness and interference with the overall effectiveness of the drug.
Alcohol can also have an adverse affect on relationships, quality of life, finances and mental health. Many of the higher risk drinkers in a study we did said they were drinking as they felt depressed and lonely. Higher risk drinkers are also less likely to feel part of their community. Social isolation and a disconnect from others seems to be the main issue, meaning this group disappears more and more below the radar.
At Drink Wise, Age Well we don’t tell people that they can’t drink alcohol. Having the odd drink can help with relaxation and social engagement. However, when drinking is added to other factors such as isolation, loneliness, or a decline in health it may start to cause a lot more harm than good.
When we offer support to people who are drinking too much we look at all aspects of their lives and provide social and volunteering opportunities and run lots of alcohol-free events for folk to meet new people and learn new things.
We also offer plenty of tips for cutting down including having between two to three alcohol-free days a week and drinking within the recommended UK guidelines, drinking with meals and avoiding topping up your glass, as this can help you keep track of the amount you are drinking.
If you know or care about someone older and are worried about their drinking, have a chat in a supportive way and try and involve them more in their communities. The benefits of social connection are huge for both health and well-being, and the need to drink to fill the void will hopefully reduce.
Our short e-learning module is a great way to find out how to start a conversation with someone about their drinking.
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We rely on the generosity of the public to fund our work and so far together we have achieved great things! Please do continue to support us so we can provide future generations in Ireland with the resources to recognise and talk about their emotions, and equip them to navigate the ever-changing world around them as they grow
