Many older people are misusing alcohol and would benefit from intervention by mental health professionals.
Many older people are misusing alcohol and would benefit from intervention by mental health professionals.
A UK study by researchers at South London and Maudsley and the Institute of Psychiatry showed an unprecedented rise in the proportion of people over the age of 65 drinking above recommended limits. In the past decade, the number these patients admitted to acute hospitals with alcohol-related problems has risen by 127 per cent. Those with known mental health disorders account for more than 10 per cent of these patients
The study highlighted an inconsistent approach to referring older people to community services. It found that when older people with mental health problems related to alcohol misuse were treated within mainstream.