Sj. Bercsi et al., ALCOHOL-USE AND ABUSE IN THE FRAIL, HOMEBOUND ELDERLY - A CLINICAL ANALYSIS OF 103 PERSONS, Drug and alcohol dependence, 33(2), 1993, pp. 139-149
We studied alcohol use and abuse in 103 frail, homebound elderly indiv
iduals cared for in a long-term home health care program from July 199
1 to February 1992. Their average age was 80.63 years. Eighty-four per
cent were abstinent at the time of the study, including 25 (25%) past
heavy drinkers. Two persons were current heavy drinkers and 14 continu
ed to drink socially. Previous alcohol use or abuse was associated wit
h a history of smoking, cardiovascular morbidity, social isolation, an
d anxiety or agitation. Current social drinking was associated with se
dative-hypnotic use as well as smoking. Twenty-three of 25 past heavy
drinkers remained sober on our programs without the use of formal alco
hol treatment. Abstinence is known to increase with age, appears to be
fostered by the homebound setting, is feasible for homebound elderly
persons and is often accepted.