MANY older people feel like they have lost their purpose in life.

Circumstances such as their children leaving home; retirement; losing a loved one or caring for a partner with a long-term illness can contribute to the increasing loneliness and isolation many older people face.

Such feelings can impact significantly on their health and, in some cases, can tempt older people to turn to drink for comfort.

The first State of the Nation Report from the Drink wise, Age Well programme which aims to address the challenges of alcohol-related harm in older adults, highlights the need for action to reduce alcohol-related harm in older adults across the UK.

Based in five demonstration areas across the country, but with learnings shared across the nation, the aim is to raise awareness of the issue of alcohol-related harm among people over 50, change attitudes, combat stigmatisation, convey harm reduction messages and influence community norms about the use of alcohol. The programme will develop a body of evidence on how to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm in people over 50 which will inform future practice in the UK.

Andrew Misell, director of Alcohol Concern for Wales, says: “Drinking amongst older people has been under the radar for some time, partly because of the media focus on young people out drinking in town centres on the weekends. Older people tend to drink at home, and so if they are getting into difficulties with alcohol it often goes unnoticed.

“Drinking in the post-retirement age group seems to be on the up, and there are a few reasons for this. Firstly, we have those of us who started drinking heavily in youth or middle age and never really cut back. Then there those of us who find retirement hard to manage. We might lose professional status, our health might be worsening, and as we get older we also suffer more bereavements as our friends and family age too. What’s clear is that alcohol services need to engage with older people where they are, understand their needs and what will help them manage their drinking. Often the solution is nothing to do with alcohol itself – it might be that help to get more involved in the local community and make new friends is what’s needed.”

Launched in May last year, the Older People's Project, run under the auspice of the alcohol advisory serivce, Lifeline in Bradford, recognised the need to work closely with older people over 50 who may be more susceptible to drinking through loneliness and isolation.

"One of my colleagues was doing outreach work and 80 per cent of his case loads were older people who were dependent drinkers," explains Mehnaz Bibi, project coordinator of SHARE (Self Help Recovery Exchange) an abstinence and recovery focused community based service set up in June 2011.

"It is doing as much as we can to minimise harm before it gets to be a problem."

As well as outreach work - visiting older people in the community - SHARE is also running afternoon tea parties on the last Monday of every month at the Lifeline offices in Manor Row, Bradford. The aim of the sessions is to reduce loneliness and isolation and give older people a place where they can socialise.

"Older people are a really vulnerable client group and what we noticed is they wouldn't come to us. We have to do something to reach out to them and our tea parties are successful and it is so rewarding as well because of the smiles on their faces," explains Mehnaz.

As well as running tea parties, the project recently launched 'Walking Football' sessions which run every Thursday afternoon at Manningham Sports Centre.

'Walking Football' - which developed through the Lifeline initiative ALPHA (Active Lives Fulfilling Ambitions) based in Manchester - is a slower format of the game and is aimed at men and women over 50 with health and mobility issues.

Mehnaz says the sessions may also give respite to those who are caring for a loved one.

Pensioners champion, Jean Walker, chairman of Bradford and District Senior Power, says she believes the temptation for older people to drink when they are lonely 'is quite high.'

"I think it will be a hidden challenge because I think people will do it but they won't be open about it.

"And I think it's like a lot of things, it's in the background and we don't investigate the causes enough."

For more information visit alcoholconcern.org.uk or call the organisation's freephone helpline on 0300 123 1110. To find out more about the Older People's project call 01274 735775.