PROBLEM DRINKING AMONG RESIDENTS OF A VA NURSING-HOME

The authors conducted a retrospective study of problem drinking among persons admitted to a Veterans Affairs Nursing Home Care Unit (VA NHCU ). Lifetime problem drinking was prevalent in 36% of admissions, two-t hirds of whom had active alcohol problems. Problem drinkers were young er and less often currently married than NHCU residents without alcoho l problems. Forty-seven per cent of persons with active alcohol proble ms returned to independent living. The results suggest that VA NHCUs m ay be an important transition between hospital and home for elderly pa tients with alcohol problems, affording an opportunity for identificat ion and intervention.