Transitions and Alcohol Use in the Later Lifespan: Environmental and Individual-level Influences

ABSTRACT 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. The study aims include describing patterns and volume of alcohol consumption, how specific drinking contexts and situations influence drinking, and how changes in life experiences may result in subsequent changes in alcohol use, whether increasing, decreasing or maintaining levels of consumption. 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).