Older adults

ASH Scotland's Tobacco & Inequalities initiative has targeted some of its work around the theme of older adults.

Additionally, ASH Scotland's Development Officers can provide tobacco awareness-raising sessions to community and voluntary organisations free of charge.  Contact us via enquiries@ashscotland.org.uk for further details, or call us on 0131 225 4725.

Relevant research

Find out about the latest UK and international research into tobacco and older people, available from our Information Service.

Resources

Literature review: tobacco and older adults (updated March 2010) (PDF, 496 KB)

Tobacco & Inequalities and PATH funded tobacco work

Organisation/Description
The School of Nursing and Midwifery & Community Health, at Glasgow Caledonian University developed and evaluated tobacco training for primary care health professionals working with older adults and took forward receommendations from previous work funded through the PATH Support Fund.
For more information read: Link opens in new windowSmoking cessation in later life: an evaluation of the impact of smoking cessation training on the knowledge, attitudes and practice of members of the primary care team who work with older people. (October 2007) (PDF, 3.84 MB) and Link opens in new windowexecutive summary (2007) (PDF, 203 KB).  See below for infomration about the precursor to these developments.
With Funding from the PATH Support Fund, Glasgow Caledonian University carried out an earlier piece of research in 2004, which helped inform the development of training described above.  The research aimed to gather knowledge, practice, experiences and attitudes of primary care staff and current and former older smokers to inform the later development of training to encourage members of the primary care team to provide older adults with information and advice on stopping smoking.                                                                                                                                                                  For more information read: Link opens in new windowDeveloping Evidence-Based Smoking Cessation Training and Education Initiatives in Partnership with Older People and Health Professionals
to access the full report and executive summary.
Stop-smoking service, Health Promotion, NHS Orkney conducted a needs assessment for home support smoking cessation services for older people living in Orkney.  The research aimed to identified need/demand for one-to-one and group stop-smoking support for Orkney Island Council home care clients and identify training requirements for home carers to support clients wanting to stop smoking.
For more information read: No individual report available.  Please read Evaluating the Impact of the Phase 3 Tobacco and Inequalities Project Targeting Minority Ethnic Communities, Mental Health and Well-being, and Older Adults which can be found at External Evaluation - Phase 3.
Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO) supported and developed networks with existing stop-smoking teams and health promotion agencies to deliver practical assistance to smokers in working class traditional coalfield communities across central Scotland.
For more information read: Case Study C: Older Adults - Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (September 2006) (PDF, 487 KB)
Lightburn Elderly Association Project (LEAP) in partnership with NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde stop-smoking service aimed to deliver an accessible, targeted and informal service to support pre-quit and post quit support needs through LEAPs programme of activities in the Cambuslang area.
For more information read: Link opens in new windowOlder People - Smoking Cessation programme (July 2007) (PDF, 3.1 MB)
Stirling Health & Well Being Alliance delivered an intensive community-based smoking cessation programme to motivate and empower older adults living in disadvantaged areas of Stirling to quit smoking.
For more information read: Link opens in new windowStopping smoking for older people (January 2008) (PDF, 271 KB)
The West Lothian Drug and Alcohol Service in partnership with NHS Lothian aimed to establish an accessible, user-friendly community-focussed service for smokers aged 50 and over, who want to stop smoking. Individual or group support were delivered to community and leisure settings to increase awareness among health professionals of the effects of smoking and the stop-smoking support needs of older adults.
For more information read: Link opens in new windowIt's Time' (August 2007) (PDF, 212 KB)
Braveheart based in Falkirk . Developed resources for the provision of additional targeted training, information sessions, and support groups for older adults who have suffered a cardiac event that smoke.
For more information read: Link opens in new windowBraveheart smoking cessation (July 2007) (PDF, 243 KB)
The Health Promotion department at NHS Borders conducted a needs assessment.  The aim was to establish the views and needs regarding tobacco awareness and stopping smoking amongst people aged 65 and over ,and their carers, living in a supported setting either residential or at home in Eyemouth.
For more information read: Link opens in new windowTobacco and the over 65's: a needs assessment based on smokers' and carers' views (August 2006) (PDF, 637 KB)