How to Assess Alcohol Consumption in the Elderly

Moderate social drinking can provide beneficial effects for adults, including the elderly. However, the detrimental effects of alcohol consumption among senior citizens are not as widely scrutinized as those of other age groups, particularly teenagers. General decline in health, social isolation, and use of medications that interact with alcohol are among the potential problems involving seniors and alcohol. For the protection of the elderly, therefore, experts in geriatric medicine such as Sally K. Rigler, M.D., recommend screening for levels of alcohol consumption and possible alcohol abuse among this population.

Instructions

• 1

  Administer screening tests such as the Alcohol-Related Problems Survey (ARPS) that are designed specifically to be used by elderly patients. Physicians and other health-care practitioners who deal with the elderly should be trained to administer the ARPS survey to patients who indicate alcohol-related problems. Other screening tests include the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) that reveals drinking habits and social problems.

• 2

  Family members can observe how much an elderly person drinks.

  Observe how much alcohol the elderly person is consuming. A concerned family member or friend may be in a good position to check on how much the individual is drinking. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse, one drink a day is considered the maximum for moderate alcohol intake for people age 65 or older. A drink is the equivalent of 0.5 oz of alcohol: 1.5 oz. of distilled spirits, 5 oz. of wine, or 12 oz. of beer.

• 3

  Watch for behavioral signs of alcohol abuse such as driving while impaired, arguments about drinking to excess, the need for increasing amounts of alcohol, and continued drinking despite warnings about interaction with medications and other problems. Again, family members and friends may be the best resources to observe problems and may be willing to consult the elderly person's physician.

• 4

  Encourage the elderly person to take an evaluation test. One such test is the CAGE, which asks if the person has ever felt he should cut down on his drinking, whether people criticized him for his drinking, has he ever felt guilty about drinking, and has he ever had a drink first thing in the morning for nerves or a hangover. A more extensive self-screening is offered on AddictionLink. It includes 13 questions asking how much the individual drinks, whether she needs an "eye-opener" in the morning, whether she has ever blacked out, injured herself or another person, or been advised by a friend or doctor to cut down. The individual submits her answers and receives an evaluation.