Understanding the complex experiences of older people's alcohol use

Alcohol use and related complications in older people often go undetected. This may be because of a combination of a lack of asking, recognition of symptoms or behaviours or aged nuanced policies and services. The considerations are complex: some will bring a long history of heavy drinking into older people’s services whereas others might start drinking in older age as a way of coping with life events such as the death of their partner, depression, retirement and the accompanying loss of purpose. Older people’s alcohol use presents a different set of challenges for social workers.

Learning outcomes:

• Understanding the nature of older people’s alcohol use: patterns of, symptoms, possible cause and consequences.
• Identifying what works in having conversations with and assessments of older people’s alcohol use.
• Exploring the potential different roles of and skills for social workers in responding and intervening with older people’s alcohol use.

Wulf Livingston, reader in social sciences, Glyndwr University