Call for over 50s alcohol misuse programme

Age Cymru is welcoming today's calls from the Assembly's health committee for more support for groups -including over 50s, with alcohol misuse.

Commenting, Age Cymru's Health Initiatives Officer, Angharad Phillips, says:

"Alcohol misuse among over 50s has been largely overlooked over the years and Wales needs a programme targeted at this age group that provides them with information and treatment.

"We need something like the pilot project that is underway in the Cwm Taf area at the moment called ‘Drink Wise, Age Well', which is aimed at preventing alcohol misuse among over 50s."

There are several reasons why some older people misuse alcohol, as Angharad explains:

"Some older people drink more when they retire because the structure and pace of their life changes and they have more free time on their hands.

"Others who face life-changing experiences such as bereavement may also start drinking more and this can go undetected because it is happening behind in the privacy of their own homes."

But as, Angharad concludes,  alcohol misuse can have wider implications for over 50s:

"There is more to this problem than we might think as alcohol can also compromise the effectiveness of medicines older people are taking.

"This, in turn, can cause side-effects such as drowsiness which can contribute to trips and falls among older people."