Alcohol, Medication and Older Adults
For Those Who Care About or Care for an Older Adult

Module 7: Assessing a Problem - Page 2 of 5

Screening Tools

Several screening tools are available to assess problems of alcohol and medication misuse, as well as depression in older adults. The four tools presented here are:

An Alcohol Screening Test (Short MAST-G)

Health care providers may use one of several screening tools to determine the effects of alcohol on a person's health. One of the most widely used questionnaires for older adults is the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test - Geriatric Version, also known as the MAST-G. The questions ask about the experiences of the older adult in the past year.

It is often difficult to distinguish signs of misuse from signs of depression.

If responses are unclear, ask for clarification. Ask the older adult to choose the response closest to his or her experience.

If the person does not drink on a regular basis, recording the drinking pattern can be difficult. For example, if the person was drinking heavily in the month before an accident but has not had any alcohol since, it may be difficult to characterize the "typical" drinking pattern.

Using the amount of drinking and related symptoms for the heaviest drinking period of the past year will provide the most useful information. However, it is important to note any special circumstances and the time period assessed for that particular person.

Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (Short MAST-G)

In the past year:

  1. When talking with others, do you ever underestimate how much you actually drink?
    Yes No
  2. After a few drinks, have you sometimes not eaten or been able to skip a meal because you didn't feel hungry?
    Yes No
  3. Does having a few drinks help decrease your shakiness or tremors?
    Yes No
  4. Does alcohol sometimes make it hard for you to remember parts of the day or night?
    Yes No
  5. Do you usually take a drink to relax or calm your nerves?
    Yes No
  6. Do you drink to take your mind off your problems?
    Yes No
  7. Have you ever increased your drinking after experiencing a loss in your life?
    Yes No
  8. Has a doctor or nurse ever said they were worried or concerned about your drinking?
    Yes No
  9. Have you ever made rules to manage your drinking?
    Yes No
  10. When you feel lonely, does having a drink help?
    Yes No

Scoring: If the person answered "yes" to two or more questions, encourage a talk with the doctor.

© The Regents of the University of Michigan, 1991

Source: University of Michigan Alcohol Research Center

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