Older adults and support for alcohol use

The Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse Sector Podcast · Apr 23, 2026 · 6m

Alcohol use in older adults is often described as a hidden issue not because it's uncommon, but because it is frequently overlooked, misunderstood, and under-responded to. In this episode, we explore a recurring theme emerging from safeguarding reviews: when alcohol-related harm presents in later life, it is often masked by other factors, misinterpreted, or not explored with sufficient curiosity.

This isn't simply about access to services. It's about how systems see (or fail to see) risk, need, and vulnerability in older adults.

In this week's episode we discuss:

Why alcohol use in older…