Unhealthy use of alcohol by older adults is a serious problem that is under identified and under studied. The primary objective of the study was to examine the prevalence rates and demographics of current alcohol use in older adults residing in independent low-income housing centers. The study was a cross-sectional self-report of older adults living in low-income senior community housing centers. There were 350 adult residents, over 60 years of age, who were approached for screening from February 2009 through April 2009. The final sample of eligible participants comprised of 174 (49.7%) subjects. The results indicate 40.2% were classified as current drinkers while 60.3% were abstainers. The findings conclude that current alcohol use is common and drinkers tend to be male, white, with a higher education compared to women, non-whites, and those with a high school degree or less. This knowledge allows researchers to develop programs with specific aims that can influence the infrastructure of community dwellings and adapt behavior change for appropriate levels of alcohol consumption for older adults.
