All About Senior Alcohol Abuse

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Flora Umukoro

In addition to Parkinson’s Awareness Month, April is also Alcohol Awareness Month and the Tracy senior care experts at Home Care Assistance would like to spend some time discussing elderly alcohol abuse. The problem is widely under-recognized, primarily because many family members and caregivers are unclear how alcohol affects seniors differently and unsure if abuse is even taking place.

Seniors are More Sensitive to Alcohol

Seniors metabolize alcohol at a slower rate than younger people, meaning the alcohol will stay in a senior’s body longer, and seniors will also have a higher concentration of alcohol in the body because as we age, the level of water in our bodies decreases.

The heavy use of alcohol can increase the risk of heart disease and organ failure, increase the risk of slipping, decrease coordination, and worse certain health conditions like diabetes, memory troubles, and high blood pressure.

Signs of Alcoholism

Detecting alcoholism in the elderly can be difficult. Some of the signs of alcohol abuse such as slurred speech and a lack of balance may be from aging, other medical issues, or prescription medication. Family members and hourly or live-in Tracy caregivers should primarily be looking for behavior that indicates the elderly individual is seeking out or drinking alcohol to the detriment of other aspects of his or her life. They may also become irritable when they are not allowed to drink or lash out when confronted about drinking.

Getting Help

There are many options out there for seniors who have a drinking problem. The first step is getting your senior loved one to speak with his or her doctor about the effects of drinking and possible treatment options, including counseling, 12-step programs, and programs that help people identify drinking triggers. Whichever treatment(s) your loved one chooses, make sure he or she knows the whole family is there to offer support.

If your senior loved one lives too far for you to provide as much support as you’d like, consider a caregiver who can offer companionship and emotional support. Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of specialized Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and in-home dementia care in Tracy, is proud to offer both live-in and hourly care so you can select the level of care right for your loved one. Call (209) 650-8500 to schedule a no-obligation in-home consultation with an experienced Care Manager who can answer your questions and further discuss care options for your senior loved one.