Growing health concern as alcohol-related hospitalisations rise among pensioners

Hospitalisation due to drinking has climbed notably for age 65+ people in Bucks – underlining a growing concern for older people’s health.

The rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions among residents aged 65 and over has risen roughly a third since before Covid – and is now above local health service’s target.

These targets are benchmarks based on a combination of the region’s historical performance, comparison with similar areas and national priorities, among other things.

Alcohol use in later life is linked to an increased risk of falls, compounding wider pressures on health and care services. Falls remain a significant and worsening issue.

“The rate of emergency hospital admissions due to falls in people aged 65+ has risen over the last decade in Buckinghamshire, despite starting to fall nationally,” says a council presentation.

As such, the rate in Buckinghamshire ‘is now significantly higher than the national average.’

The inequality gap is also stark: older residents in the most deprived areas experience far higher falls admission rates than those in the least deprived areas.’

“[The fall from hospitalisations rate] is 65 per cent higher in Buckinghamshire's most deprived areas compared to its least deprived areas. This inequality is currently widening,” said Bucks.

Meanwhile, the proportion of older adults living with moderate or severe frailty has increased in the latest snapshot. Frailty and falls are closely linked.

There are, however, some positive movements.

The proportion of older adults doing regular muscle-strengthening exercise has risen steadily – a practice known to reduce the risk of falls.

Meanwhile, access to mental health support for older people has improved, with more people aged 65 and over being referred to NHS talking therapies.

There are also signs that outreach into more disadvantaged communities is having an impact.

However, social connection appears to have weakened.

The proportion of older adult social care users who report having as much social contact as they would like rose sharply after the pandemic – but has since fallen back. It remains below the level that Bucks is aiming for.

This matters for physical health, as there is an established link between loneliness, frailty and hospital admission.

Only about a third of older adults in Bucks who receive long-term adult social care report having as much social contact as they would like.

“This proportion is falling and is lower than the national average [which is] 43 per cent,” noted Bucks council.

The national average is 43 per cent, which Bucks used to be beating; in 2022/23, 46 per cent of this group said they had as much as social contact as they wanted.