What helps older folks drink less?  Well, it turns out, they've got some thoughts on that.  Let's jump right in.

The serious stuff first. Older adults need clear facts.

 plain talk about what alcohol can do to their bodies is a big deal.  It is not simply about finding out.  It is about understanding how alcohol affects the body more than they may think. They care about health.  Knowing some facts will not force them to change anything.  But it is " nice to know. "  Makes sense people will not change their drinking habits if they don't understand the facts. These are people who grew up in a different time.  Information they need to understand the risks is complex.

There is another big thing that pushes them towards drinking less. Give older folks a goal that makes sense.  If the target is not to drink at all, or there is no target, they will not know where they stand.  Clear goals matter. Set a reasonable target.  They might feel like they have hit the right spot every time they reach a goal. Pursue abstinence if they feel like it.

Older people like to chat.  That's some good news.  They need to talk to some kind buddies. And they do not mean doctors or nurses.  They like their own people.  They need these friends to stress less, and drink less.  This is how they can change their drinking habits.  Just talking it out with somebody else who is older helps.  Social contact is a big part of their lives with a big impact on their drinking.  Just talking it out with somebody else who is older helps.

Let us not forget about the people who need to understand the right way to approach them.  The ones who are looking out for their daily life.  I am talking about the people with one job, to keep older folks on the right track.  Contact with a particular person can make all the difference.

The right person will be there for them regularly, maybe daily,  or sometimes when they are having a hard time. Some older folks don't like constant support. They didn't like being smothered. Getting support from a person like that makes it harder to change and do what is best for their health. Cutting down on drinking is hard work on its own.

Older adults want to think things clearly, and feel positive. Older adults need to reflect, they need to think and see positive results. It is a motivator.  Tracking their drinking habits can help them figure out what to do.  It is easier to cut down on drinking if they believe they can.

What else can you discover  about what is important to reduce drinking in older adults.  It is worth finding out.  But do it with them in mind, not about what is easy for the doctors or nicer for the nurses or for whatever reason helping them to stop or cut down feels dolled out to professionals.  This is not general practice.  It is not meant for kids or young adults but for older adults.  So focus on them and what they need, what is important for them, and how they live.

A surprising outcome from this study is how older adults are a tough cookie who need to be approached with interest. These older adults are not scared to speak out about how they feel about drinking and what they need to cut down or stop.

Some older adults might be surprised to find out that everybody getting older can get confused about their drinking habits.  They are not alone. Other older adults who had similar experiences already went through it. Older adults can engage in learning from their experiences.  That's what others who drank too much did for a very long time.

Older Adults Spill on What Really Helps Them Cut Down on Drinking.

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