Search resultsAlcohol use in a continuing care retirement community.
Title
Alcohol use in a continuing care retirement community.
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2003
Authors
Journal
Journal of gerontological nursing
Volume
29
Issue
10
Pagination
22 - 29
Date published
2003
ISBN
00989134 (ISSN)
Keywords
Accidental Falls, Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alcohol Drinking, article, daily life activity, drinking behavior, drug interaction, Drug Interactions, falling, Female, fracture, Fractures, Bone, Geriatric Assessment, Health Behavior, health status, health survey, Health Surveys, home for the aged, Housing for the Elderly, human, Humans, incidence, male, New England, nurse attitude, Nurse's Role, prevalence, questionnaire, Questionnaires, Socioeconomic Factors, socioeconomics, statistics, United States
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore alcohol use among older adults living in a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) and to consider differences in overall health, number of chronic illnesses, falls, age, and exercise behavior between those who drink moderately versus those who do not. A one-time face-to-face interview was conducted with a total of 316 residents living in an urban CCRC in the northeast. The participants were 86.6 6 6.3 years of age, and the majority were women (79%), unmarried (75%), White (9%), and middle to upper socioeconomic status (100%). The majority of these individuals (63%) drank moderately, consuming at least one drink daily. No difference was found between men's and women's drinking behaviors (chi 2 = .47, p > .05). Adults who drank moderately were older (F = 8.7, p < .05), more likely to exercise regularly (chi 2 = 27, p < .05), and were more likely to have had a fall (F = 3.7, p < .05). No statistically significant difference was found between the groups related to perceptions of overall health, number of chronic illnesses, number of medications, overall or number of medications that interact with alcohol, or cognitive status. Although not statistically significant, a greater percentage of individuals who drink moderately had fractures (12%) when compared to the percentage of individuals who do not drink at least moderately (7%). Recognizing both benefits and risks to alcohol use in older adults suggests that an individual approach to educating these individuals about their use of alcohol should be conducted.