Concerns surrounding drug and alcohol consumption are widely discussed in relation to youth but, according to a University of Adelaide researcher, there is a need to explore this issue further with older Australians.
Dr Lynette Cusack, from the University's School of Nursing, says the elderly may not consume alcohol in the same quantities as younger people, but they can suffer from a unique set of alcohol-related health issues.
"Older people don't usually drink as much as younger people in a single sitting but they can drink more regularly and are more likely to drink alone. They can also underestimate the quantities they consume," says Dr Cusack.
"As people get older, chronic conditions and medication use increases, which can react badly with alcohol.
"Older people are also at an increased risk of fractures from falls because their muscles and bones are frailer," she says.
Dr Cusack says alcohol screenings in community settings would be useful to help health professionals accurately identify alcohol consumption in older people and the potential harmful effects.
[For more of this story, written by Kate Bourne, go to http://medicalxpress.com/news/...reening-elderly.html]
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