Component Director: Robert F. Saltz, Ph.D.
Significant trends in demographic and lifestyle characteristics of older adults give reason to look more closely at alcohol consumption and subsequent harms among this group. The proportion of older adults is growing rapidly, their life expectancy is greater than previous cohorts, and they are more likely to use alcohol and other drugs than their predecessors.
This study will identify key individual and environmental influences in the course of aging through three annual surveys of adults aged 60 to 85 years of age in the state of California. The guiding conceptual model gives attention to factors of alcohol availability (e.g., income, routine activities, living situation) as well as individual characteristics, most notably physical and mental health. The study of alcohol consumption among this cohort in the general population is rare.
This study will examine how alcohol availability and opportunities influence drinking contexts, alcohol use and co-use with other drugs including prescription medications, and risk for harms such as injuries in different contexts. The study will examine how changes in these processes are related to life transitions, which may include retirement, more free time for leisure activities, changes in physical or mental health status, or moving into a retirement community or some type of assisted living.
Findings from this study are expected to inform older adults, physicians, and managers of venues that cater to older adults (e.g., retirement communities, recreational activities for seniors).
