Patient-Centred Care
In my opinion, I believe that the reason homes for older adults and intermediate care facilities have ambiguous policies when it comes to alcohol use is because of autonomy. Autonomy or self-rule is one of the most important aspects of any individual; it’s all about freedom and being able to do what you want. According to Sánchez-García et al. (2019), autonomy plays a crucial role in active aging as it prevents cognitive deterioration, depression, and longevity. Further, with all the negative aspects that society has placed on ageism, including uselessness and outdated, among others, autonomy is directly related to dignity.
According to an article published by Harvard Medical School, alcohol use among the elderly has been trending upward in the last two decades. Accordingly, the article highlights a study that found that from 2001 to 2013, the rate of alcohol disorders in individuals above 65 years increased by 107% in America alone (Dawn & Shelly 2021). In addition, alcohol abuse has negative effects on the body, including liver failure, heart disease, mental issues, a weak immune system, and a risk of cancer (Hillier & Barrow, 2014). Now adding age-related body changes in the mix, for example, slow metabolism, places elderly people at higher risk of developing these diseases, among others, upon alcohol abuse. Further, by drinking elderly people put themselves and those around them at risk of falling or other unintentional injuries. Notably, the healthcare system in America is already burdened, and by 2034, the number of individuals 65 years and above are expected to outnumber the children, which means that if the drinking trend continues this way, the healthcare system will not be able to handle all the additional challenges.
Considering all these, it is therefore imperative that alcohol policies be implemented in facilities that provide services to elderly people. However, these policies should be patient-specific because, for example, placing a two-drink restriction on everyone takes autonomy away from those who are in good enough health to drink three.
References
Dawn Sugarman & Shelly Greenfield (2021). “Rising alcohol use among older adults”. Harvard Health Publishing. Accessed from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/rising-alcohol-use-among-older-adult-202109242599
Hillier, S. M., & Barrow, G. M. (2014). Ageing, the individual, and society. Cengage learning.
Sánchez-García, S., García-Peña, C., Ramírez-García, E., Moreno-Tamayo, K., & Cantú-Quintanilla, G. R. (2019). Decreased autonomy in community-dwelling older adults. Clinical interventions in ageing, 2041-2053.
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Question 
Patient-Centred Care
Your authors state that research was done in over one hundred intermediate care facilities and homes for older adults, the policies about alcohol use were ambiguous, and very little attention was paid to this issue.
1) Give your thoughts as to why this.
2)Discuss with your classmates why alcohol use should even be considered in policies in facilities that provide services to aging populations. I’m 80 and I will drink if I want to!
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