The newly created website www.alterundsucht.ch brings together the latest knowledge on alcohol in old age. It is aimed at older people, those close to them and professionals who care for, accompany or advise older people in their everyday work.
The website www.alterundsucht.ch was developed in cooperation with the Swiss Coordination and Expert Center for Addiction Infodrog, Addiction Switzerland, the Forel Clinic and the Zurich Center for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (ZüFAM). The information on alcohol consumption in old age is available in German, French and Italian. For the development of the web content, current scientific studies were included and the opinions of both older people and professionals were obtained. It was developed with financial support from the National Alcohol Program. An extension to other substances and topics is planned.
For elderly people and relatives
On the website, older people and their relatives can find information about the changes in the body as we age and what they mean for the consumption of alcohol. With aging, the amount of water in the body decreases, the alcohol is less diluted and therefore has a stronger effect. Low-risk or even no consumption of alcohol can contribute to a good quality of life even in old age! The website also informs that drinking alcohol while taking medication can lead to problematic interactions. Relatives are given advice on how to deal with people who are alcohol-impaired and what they can do for themselves.
For the professional staff
Information, guidelines and tools useful in the care and counseling of older people are provided for physicians and for managers of institutions for the elderly and professionals from Spitex, social work and counseling. It pays to do something about an alcohol problem at any age. Treatment is often successful, especially for people who have developed an alcohol problem later in life. The website also provides information on support services for older people with alcohol problems.
Source: Media release
Cooperation partner:
Infodrog, Swiss Coordination and Expert Center for Addiction, Bern
Addiction Switzerland, Lausanne
Forel Clinic, Ellikon an der Thur
Zurich Center for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (ZüFAM), Zurich
