Umeå University's logo

Background and Objectives: With an ageing population, the number of older persons with substance use problems, particularly problematic alcohol use, is increasing. Despite grow­ing recognition of the negative consequences of problematic alcohol use on older persons, there is a dearth of knowledge about the alcohol use profiles and the dimensionality of alcohol problems in older people. Moreover, little is known about older persons’ experi­ences and perspectives on alcohol use in relation to their ageing and their personal goals regarding treatment and recovery. This thesis aimed to (i) describe the characteristics of older persons who accessed municipal substance use treatment and care services (addic­tion services) and to investigate their future hospitalization; (ii) examine the heterogeneity and multidimensionality of problematic alcohol use among older persons; and (iii) to shed light on the experiences and perspectives of older persons regarding ageing, alcohol prob­lems and recovery.

Methods: For studies I-III, municipal Addiction Severity Index (ASI) assessment data (between 2003 and 2017) from adults aged 50 years and older were used to select the study samples. Generalized linear regression models investigated hospitalization related out­comes among 3624 older persons in Study-I. In Study-II, a latent class analysis was applied on ASI data from 1747 individuals with alcohol problems. Study-III linked the ASI data from Study-II to hospital discharge and mortality data forming time-to-repeated-event dataset; Andersen-Gill regression model with a robust variance estimator was used for the analysis. Study-IV applied qualitative content analysis on interview data from ten older persons re­cruited from a specialist outpatient clinic for alcohol treatment. 

Results: Nearly three-fourth of older persons assessed for substance use severity at municipal addiction services were later hospitalized (Study-I). Individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders, psychiatric or dual diagnoses had more cumulative hospitalized days, higher rates of hospital readmissions, and shorter time to first admission following an initial ASI assessment at municipal addiction services (Study-I). Five distinct groups of older persons with comparable alcohol problem severity but with variation in onset age, psychiatric comorbidities, polysubstance use, social support and gender composition were identified (Study-II). The five groups varied in risks of repeated hospitalizations due to substance use and psychiatric disorders (Study-III). Older persons experienced their ageing and alcohol use having a dynamic interplay (Study-IV). They needed to constantly negotiate with their environment to maintain a positive ageing trajectory. They perceived moderate alcohol use fosters healthy ageing, but over time, experienced their alcohol use as unsustainable and a threat to their pursuit of healthy ageing. Stigma and ambivalence delayed treatment seeking (Study-IV). They accessed treatment programs which re­spected their preferences and autonomy, engaged them in goal setting and strengthened their agency. After reducing their alcohol use, positive changes in their biopsychosocial functioning encouraged them to continue their recovery journey even in the presence of setbacks (Study-IV).

Conclusion: Most older persons who access municipal addiction services are hospitalized repeatedly. Many older persons with alcohol problems live with medical and psychiatric comorbidities suggesting multiple care needs from health and social care services. Incor­porating older persons’ desire for healthy ageing into alcohol treatment plan can facilitate treatment engagement and recovery. Many older persons aim to moderate their alcohol consumption. Clinicians can deliver person-centered care for older persons, by consider­ing their heterogeneity in treatment goals, biopsychosocial functioning, and available re­sources. A multidimensional identification of alcohol use profiles could improve treatment by establishing the variation in alcohol problems among older treatment seekers. Older persons stay engaged in alcohol treatment programs which value their experiences and expertise, incorporate their personal treatment and life goals, respect their autonomy and agency, and involve them as active participants. Sensitizing service providers on old age substance use problems could provide multiple points of contact for screening of older persons and earlier referral to treatment. A streamlined data sharing within and between health and social care services fosters timely and equitable care and facilitates an inte­grated and person-centered care across the continuum.