Drinking Among Seniors Sometimes a Problem
By Robert D. Grupe, Prevention Coordinator
Such a major focus in today's society is placed on the problems caused by youth and alcohol abuse, that a key portion of the population is sometimes lost in the big picture. Alcohol abuse in the senior citizens population is much more serious than people generally realize. For a variety of reasons, this has been ignored by both health professionals and the public. Some of these reasons include a smaller amount of the population is involved, retirement and fewer social commitments make it easier to hide, chronic problem drinkers usually succumb to the medical issues before reaching this age, and simply put, families do not want to bother the drinker as they have only a limited time left and should be allowed to enjoy themselves. Alcohol abuse among seniors is a major area of concern for several reasons.
First, the physical effects of alcohol on the body are a major concern. It is a common truth that alcohol serves the purpose of slowing down brain activity and impairs mental alertness, judgement, physical coordination, and reaction time. Add to this the decreased stability of advancing years and arthritis and the chances and severity of falls and accidents increase alarmingly. In addition, alcohol makes a number of medical problems more difficult to diagnose. For example, alcohol can mask pain that might be the indication of a heart attack in progress. Chronic alcoholism and Alzheimer disease have similar symptoms being forgetfulness, reduced attention, and confusion. Misdiagnosis can easily result in severe problems in medication prescription and even premature placement in a care facility like a hospital or nursing home. Chronic users also run a higher risk of liver, heart, and kidney failure due to the gradual aging process being coupled with the damage that alcohol does to these systems. Often the physical effects of aging are sped up by the abuse of alcohol in the older population.
The next concern is the drug interactions that alcohol has with other prescription and over the counter medications. Alcohol use being paired with some medication result in exaggerated responses. For example, consuming alcohol with an anticoagulant drug used in treatment of heart and blood disorders make it very possible that there could be an acceleration of the heart problems. Alcohol causes unpredictable results when paired with many of the drugs that are used by the older population. Tranquilizers, pain killers, antihistamines (cold remedies) all result in an increased impairment in judgement and reduced alertness when used with alcohol as well as slowing down performance skills. In some people, aspirin can cause bleeding in the stomach and intestines. Alcohol then serves to aggravate this and make it worse. Mixing alcohol with other drugs is important to know about for all ages but more so in the older population due to the natural increase in prescription medications that usually takes place. Anyone that drinks, even moderately, should see their doctor about possible drug interactions.
Third are the situational changes that tend to take place later in life and precipitate the drinking process. Some of these include retirement, lowered income, declining health, and the inevitable death of family and friends. As in any age range, alcohol becomes the relief factor at first but then becomes a problem. These changes are more noticed and as stated are inevitable in the older population which make it more of a problem and potential reason to start drinking. Life changes are the most common reason for any age to begin drinking and this is very obvious in the older population.
So what does a friend or family member look for to detect possible drinking problems? Here are some of the most common examples for all ages. An increase in drinking to calm nerves, forget worries, or reduce depression is one of the big ones. Also, an increase in drinking alone is a major detection of alcohol abuse. This adds to the next one which is lying about the amount or drinking habits because it's easier to hide if no one is around. Getting drunk more often and needing to drink more alcohol to become drunk are very good indications of a problem drinker. The user frequently has less time for family or is more irritable, resentful, or unreasonable when they are not drinking. This is key especially in the older population. In many cases, family visits less, retirement means no co-workers and fewer social engagements which makes detecting a problem drinker more difficult. Finally, one of the most important, medical, social, and financial problems begin to surface because of the drinking.
There is help and hope for the older population. Studies show that seniors are more likely to stick with treatment programs for the duration. There are self help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous that help users come to terms with the drinking as well as supply social contact and the chance to find alternatives. Churches and local groups are always looking for mentors and volunteers to help with various activities. The important thing to remember is you are not alone and you do not have to be alone. Seniors have a large supply of wisdom and knowledge to supply to the younger generation and do not have to resort to alcohol as the quick fix. For more information on alcohol abuse in the senior population or for treatment/self help options, contact Heartland Human Services. We are here to help!