Development of Australia's first older adult-specific early intervention for alcohol-related harm: Feasibility and proof of concept.

OBJECTIVES

The rate of older Australians at risk of experiencing alcohol-related harm increased by 31% over the past 10 years, yet there are no Australian age-specific early interventions. We describe the development of Australia's first age-specific early intervention protocol.

METHODS

Through examining effective overseas older adult-specific interventions, in addition to other relevant literature, an early intervention protocol was developed.

RESULTS

The Older Wiser Lifestyles (OWL) early intervention protocol extends protocols that have been developed overseas through providing: (i) interventions that are tailored to the person's readiness to change, including the provision of harm reduction strategies for people who are precontemplative; and (ii) individualised psychoeducational materials regarding medical conditions and medications.

CONCLUSION

The OWL protocol has been successfully implemented in a service, and preliminary data warrant a clinical trial of the intervention. Australian health-care providers should consider the OWL protocol as a simple method to reduce the risk from alcohol consumption among older adults.