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Published on 10 January 2011 12:30 PM
Wales' alcohol abuse strategies are failing to address the needs of over 50s, according to older people’s charity, Age Cymru.
The warning comes ahead of the National Assembly for Wales discussing programmes to tackle alcohol abuse on Tuesday 11 January.
Age Cymru’s Health Initiatives Officer, Rhian Pearce says:
“Alcohol misuse strategies in Wales are largely associated with concerns around binge drinking by young people, while older people’s needs receive little focus.
“Age Cymru wants the Welsh Assembly to take a broader view of alcohol abuse in Wales.
“Alcohol abuse is a problem for people of all ages, but it is more likely to go unrecognised among older people, with an estimated 1 in 6 older men, and 1 in 15 older women drinking enough to harm themselves.
“About a third of older people with drinking problems develop them in later life, and this is often because of factors such as bereavement, social isolation or physical ill health.
"Alcohol abuse among older people has also been shown to contribute to an increased risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and dementia, so there is a clear need for government action around this problem”.
Age Cymru is calling for the following action from the Welsh Assembly Government:
• Clear guidelines should be produced for safe levels of drinking for older people who can be more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol due to physiological changes that happen as part of the ageing process;
• Information and advice should be available to older people and those approaching retirement on safe levels of alcohol use in later life;
• Health promotion for older people should include information to improve knowledge and understanding of the potential problems relating to alcohol misuse;
• Support and training should be provided for health and social care professionals to improve the identification of alcohol misuse;
• Links between specialist addiction services and other health and social care services should be improved, including improved access to screening for older patients;
• Liaison and referral systems between services must be improved and people should be referred to appropriate medical care based on clinical evidence regardless of age;
ENDS
CONTACT
For all media enquiries, please contact Iwan Rhys Roberts, Communications Officer – Age Cymru, on 029 2043 1562, 07739 894 923, iwan.roberts@agecymru.org.uk
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For all media enquiries about Age Cymru, please contact our Communications Officer, Iwan Rhys Roberts.
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