Interventions to reduce the negative effects of alcohol consumption in older adults: a systematic review

Background – Alcohol consumption in older adults is rising, with little being done to intervene. Ageing involves many lifestyle changes such deterioration in health, retirement and general social differences, which could be important factors in the rise of problematic and risky drinking and therefore need to be investigated. The primary objective of this research was to conduct a systematic review of interventions to reduce alcohol consumption aimed specifically at older individuals (aged 55+). The factors, conditions and motivations that could lead to a higher risk of problematic alcohol consumption in older individuals were also explored through critical appraisal and narrative reviewing. Methods - A systematic review was carried out on interventions among older adults (aged 55+) on databases including CINAHL, socINDEX and Medline. Papers meeting the inclusion criteria were appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist, which assessed the validity of included trials. Findings - Out of 2,552 publications identified, 6 papers were included in the final review. A small number of interventions have been carried out and they vary in effectiveness. All studies included used a limited range of demographics and relatively small samples when investigating older people. Discussion – Whilst research is being conducted in this area, there is still minimal evidence regarding what works in reducing alcohol consumption in older adults. This review is important in the field of health promotion and can help inform the development of an effective intervention to reduce drinking in later life.