Title: Older People and alcohol a Highland d ti j t t ll it it ipeer education project – tell it as it is

Title: Older People and alcohol a Highland peer education project – tell it as it is

‘slainte and good health’The presenters are:p• Ian McNamara – Chair of the Highland Senior Citizens Network (HSCN)• Elisabeth Smart – Highland Alcohol and Drug Partnership /Public Health NHS

Highland

Thank you to:Deborah Stewart HADP co ordinatorDeborah Stewart HADP co-ordinator 5 HSCN Peer Educators2 HSCN Co-ordinators

Highland Partnership Award August 2017-from the Third Sector Interfacefrom the Third Sector Interface

PurposepHighland Senior Citizen Network is an advocacy project for older people.This project aims to increase awareness:This project aims to increase awareness: • of the impact of alcohol on older people• of the guidance about lower risk drinking (14 units men and women)• of risk factors (bereavement being a carer changes in health (and medicines) orof risk factors (bereavement, being a carer, changes in health (and medicines) or

retirement)

Test out a peer education model (older people saying to older people ‘we need to beTest out a peer education model (older people saying to older people we need to be aware’)Test out acceptable methods of delivery

Is it really an issue for older people? y p p• Around a third of men and 15% of women in

Scotland aged over 65 drink more than the low risk limits

There are many changes to circumstances that can lead to an increase in alcohol consumption

risk limits

• Older people need to be particularly careful with alcohol because they become more sensitive to alcohol's effects as they age

• bereavement • caring responsibilities • changes in health• disposal income

Alcohol Focus

disposal income• medicines or changes to medicines• peer pressure /increase in social opportunities• Retirement

Highland population change in those aged 65 years and overyears and over

What did we do (1) – tell it as it is( )• HADP strategic plan and action plan • Discussion with HSCN to agree aims/purposeDiscussion with HSCN to agree aims/purpose• Training and raising awareness of peer educators

– Information: included local data, epidemiology, role of the alcohol industry– Skills based session: examples/demonstrations of what might be includedSkills based session: examples/demonstrations of what might be included– Discussion about possible programme content

Continuous improvement and evaluationContinuous improvement and evaluationUse of Plan Do Study Act(PDSA) cycles, session evaluation and final evaluation (to be completed)

What did we do (2) – tell it as it is( )Numbers• Agreed a contract to deliver between 9-12 sessions throughout Highland andAgreed a contract to deliver between 9 12 sessions throughout Highland and

covering all 9 partnership areas• 11 sessions delivered• 7 Localities• 189 attended• 26 (14%) males and 165 (86%) females

What did we do (3) – tell it as it is( )A typical session:• Thank you for invite – awareness session not about abstinence

I it ti f t t• Invite questions from start• Asked who knew the current guidelines• What is a unit? (demonstration)• Age group issues Who are the biggest drinkers by age group?

What are the risk factors? (Fire added later)Are the symptoms easy to spot in older people?

• Hints and tips and goodie bag• Check out if group are now more confident about guidelines• Questions and answers• Smiley face evaluation• PDSA (with HADP)

LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF: Hints and tips

• Alcohol free days• Use a smaller glass• Remember the number 14

• You can say ’No’ if you don’t want a drink• Alcohol affects older people differently from

younger people• The sugar in alcohol will can increase weight• Remember the number 14

• Have a ‘Spacer – not a chaser• Not all drinks are the same strength• Have alcohol with food• Dilute alcohol

The sugar in alcohol will can increase weight• Alcohol stimulates your appetite and can

increase weight• Scotland has reduced the limits for driving

H it i b ttl f i ?• Medicines and alcohol may not mix• Alcohol may make problems worse

How many units in a bottle of wine?Volume of the bottle – usually 750 mls x strength as a % ÷ 1,000For example, 750mls x 13% ÷ 1,000 = 9.75 (almost 10 units in the

bottle)

CONTENTS OF ‘GOODIE BAG’CONTENTS OF GOODIE BAG

• Unit measuring tumblerg• Drinks Unit Calculator• Leaflets

– ‘Enjoying a drink and staying safe as we get older’ (Outside the Box)Enjoying a drink and staying safe as we get older (Outside the Box)– Looking after yourself – ‘Hints and Tips’– Fire Safety information– Alcohol Information Sheet – where to get supportAlcohol Information Sheet where to get support

• HSCN Key Ring • HADP Biro

What we found (1) – tell it as it is( )Why it worked so wellOlder people talking to older peopleBeing non judgemental

• Increased knowledge about lower risk guidelines and unit size

• Increased knowledge about issues for older peopleBeing non judgemental

It became a conversationSharing of experience (extremely

open)

people

Evaluation

• 133 11 1open) Light hearted but not distract from

seriousness of issuesThe goodie bag

133 11 1

What we found (2)– tell it as it is( )InsightsThe groups:The groups:• were confident the younger generation were more of the problem• did not see any point in having a different safe limit for older people• talked about alcohol consumption and related issues hidden behind closed doorstalked about alcohol consumption and related issues hidden behind closed doors• allowed for a good discussion • asked for information about where to get help/signposting to services (self or others)• identified bereavement boredom caring role isolation and retirement as risk factors• identified bereavement, boredom, caring role, isolation and retirement as risk factors

What we conclude – tell it as it is• Short interactive fun sessions – high level of engagement • Low level of awareness about alcohol consumption and issues for older peopleLow level of awareness about alcohol consumption and issues for older people• Belief it is an issue for younger people• Surprise about the number of older people who present to NHS/other services with

alcohol related problemsp• Participants at sessions are potential carriers of the messages• More women than men attended – need different approach• Older people talking to older people as a delivery model was acceptableOlder people talking to older people as a delivery model was acceptable

What next: evaluation to inform future sessions

Thanks for listening and any questions?slainte and good healthslainte and good health