Elderly Alcohol Consumption

Elderly Alcohol Abuse Common

Alcohol abuse in the elderly is often overlooked and undiagnosed. An older person may live alone, apart from his adult children. A son may suspect his parent is developing an alcohol problem because of subtle behavioral changes. But he can't pinpoint, with certainty, that alcohol is the cause. He needs to assess how much alcohol his parent is consuming.

Seniors At Risk

Determine if the older person is a heavy drinker. One drink is equal to 0.5 ounces of distilled spirits, also known as hard liquor; 12 ounces of beer; or 5 ounces of wine. Moderate alcohol use is a maximum of one drink per day. Any amount exceeding that is considered heavy drinking and puts the senior at risk of alcohol-related problems. Women are especially at risk because their bodies do not metabolize alcohol as efficiently as men's bodies do.



The following assessment checklist will give you signs to look for in assessing the extent of an elderly person's alcohol consumption:

Look for a decline in the quality of self-care and missed medical appointments. Other signs of excessive drinking are poorly controlled high blood pressure, erratic results on lab tests and digestive problems. Pay attention to cuts, scrapes and bruises on the senior, frequent falls and trips to the Emergency Room. Be aware that Isolation and avoidance of family members is a sign of heavy drinking. Unanticipated confusion and disorientation while in the hospital is a sign of alcohol withdrawal.

Combining Alcohol with Medications

Visit the older person frequently, and mentally note changes in behavior and health that correspond to those on your assessment checklist. If possible, look for empty liquor bottles and beer cans in trash cans at the senior's residence. Ascertain, if you can, what medications the older person is taking, i.e., anxiety and pain medications. A senior may not realize that certain medications cannot be safely combined with alcohol. A glass of wine with a tranquilizer can be fatal.

After your visit, log your observations in a notebook, and record the date and time. If an alcohol problem is present, it should become obvious in your log. It may even form a pattern of being worse some days than others. If the elderly person's health and behavior indicate that alcohol may be a problem, try talking it over in a nonaccusing way with him. Alcohol abuse to many seniors is typified by derelicts on skid row and other down-and-outs -- not them.




Family Support is Strategic

If you determine that an older person's drinking is becoming dangerous, and you have unsuccessfully broached the subject with him, contact his physician and other family members to get them involved. The family can meet with the physician and come up with strategies to help the senior either cut down on his alcohol consumption or quit drinking altogether.