Alcohol in the older population Part 1: Grandma has a drinking problem?

Abstract

Previously thought of as the elderly, the older population is most frequently defined as those age 60 and older; in short, “we older persons” are the baby boomers—although many of us do not want to consider ourselves older. We members of the boomer population, born between 1946 and 1964, generally consider ourselves vital, active, proactive, productive, and thriving. We often think the category “older”—those who are 65 years and older—is reserved for our parents, a misperception that misses a significant percentage of persons entering their older years. We do not stop to think that by 2010, baby boomers will increase the population of older adults to 40 million and begin to depend on Medicare. Twenty years later, in 2030, the 65-and-over population will hit 70 million; we “older persons” will be 1 out of every 5 Americans.