Experiences of alcohol-dependent elderly: grounded theory.
José Stéfano Faia Destro, Maria José Sanches Marin, Marcia Aparecida Padovan Otani and 2 others
PMID 36477248WHAT IT FOUND
Older adults with alcohol dependence described drinking as coping with retirement, distress, or difficult life situations.
Active drinkers denied harm. Those in abstinence described better health, finances, and calm, but also loneliness and regret. These themes can guide conversations and assessment.
Key findings
01Participants described starting or continuing alcohol use as a way to manage retirement, distress, or difficult life situations.
02Elderly who continued excessive drinking denied harm and did not recognize the need for help, while those in abstinence described physical, financial, and emotional benefits.
03Alcohol dependence was linked to physical decline, family conflict, shame, financial problems, and feelings of loneliness and regret after abstinence.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
It was conducted in only one treatment site and municipality. It is a qualitative study, so it does not show that treatment or nursing care changed outcomes. Participants were recruited through Psychosocial Care Center and Family Health Strategy units. Family members and friends were included to understand social interaction, not to measure outcomes independently.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the reported benefits of abstinence as proof that a treatment works. This is a qualitative account of experiences in one municipality, not a controlled outcome study.