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![]() 218137 Alcohol Misuse in Elderly Care Facilities in Chittenden County, VermontTuesday, November 9, 2010
Introduction. While alcohol misuse is largely reported as a problem in younger populations, recent studies have shown that it may be a significant, underreported, and under- diagnosed problem in senior populations. In addition, there is sparse literature regarding the prevalence of alcohol misuse in senior care facilities. Understanding and identifying alcohol-related problems in the elderly is critical as the aging population in this county continues to grow. Objective. In this study we aimed to determine the prevalence of alcohol-related issues in local senior care facilities, to better understand the range of policies related to alcohol consumption, and to gain an understanding of what additional resources may be beneficial in the future. Methods. We surveyed 13 Chittenden County, Vermont nursing, assisted living, and independent living facilities using an anonymous questionnaire consisting of 27 questions about alcohol misuse patterns among residents. Results. Our data showed that 2/3 of the respondents reported at least one resident displaying patterns of alcohol use in the last year that they considered unhealthy. In addition, 2/3 of respondents indicated that receiving training to identify residents with alcohol problems would be beneficial. Staff members who had received training also showed better knowledge of resources to offer residents. Conclusions. This data indicates that while the number of concerning residents per institution may be low, there is an ongoing issue of alcohol misuse in need of support. These statistics are also encouraging, as they signify the possibility for both institutional willingness to facilitate treatment and resident interest in attending treatment.
Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health educationImplementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs Public health or related education Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines Public health or related research Social and behavioral sciences Learning Objectives: Keywords: Alcohol Use, Special Populations
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Design, implementation, interpretation, writing and critical review and presentation of this project. I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.
Back to: 4132.0: Alcohol: Special Topics
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