Calls to better respond to alcohol harms amongst older adults have been reiterated in two new reports highlighting age discrimination within treatment settings, policy and research practice.
A new study funded by Alcohol Research UK revealed that 75% of 118 residential rehabilitation centres surveyed had arbitrary upper age limits. Three quarters also said they had limited or no disabled access, with older rehab users experiencing a range of age related issues including discriminatory attitudes or bullying.
The research findings come as the Drink Wise Age Well project released a new report 'Calling Time: Addressing ageism and age discrimination in alcohol policy, practice and research' [pdf].
The report describes evidence of age discrimination in alcohol policy, practice and research following a survey of professionals, interviews and focus groups with older adults in addition to a review of relevant literature. It highlights such discrimination is illegal under the Equality Act 2010 yet identifies practices such as alcohol services unable or unwilling to carry out home visits and general prioritisation of younger service users.
The report states:
'This discrimination is likely to be due to pervasive misconceptions, attitudes and assumptions based on stereotypes, for example older adults are incapable of change or alcohol problems predominantly affect young people. Older adults may also be discriminated against because of socially ingrained ageism which means that younger people are valued more by society. Age discrimination is rarely a result of malign intentions or motives and people are often not even aware of the prejudices they have.'
The report makes a series of recommendations for national policy, organisations, commissioners and researchers. It calls for proactive responses to address the range of issues highlighted and ensure recognition and equitable responses for older adults with alcohol needs.
The 'Drink Wise, Age Well' initiative was established following an award of £25 million lottery funding in 2014. The aim of the programme is to 'help people make healthier choices about their alcohol use' and support front-line roles to better recognise and respond to those who may be at risk and has released a series of reports.
Repeated calls to address rising alcohol-related problems amongst older adults have been made by Dr Tony Rao and others including the Royal College of Psychiatrists, although with limited national level response. Whilst a limited number of local older adult focused alcohol services had been set up, some have since fallen as treatment budgets shrink and smaller providers struggle to compete. In 2016 a report from the Glasgow Centre for Population Health warned not to ‘ghettoise’ messages and services for older adults but recognise the complexity of the issues around alcohol.
DDN covered the latest reports whilst sections of national media took a selective approach focusing mainly on a message relating to calls to think carefully about buying alcohol for older adults at Christmas - Daily Mail and the Times.
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