How to Recognize Alcoholism in Older Adults - and What to Do About It
February 2003 — As many as one in six elderly Americans may be dependent on alcohol, and detecting the problem can be particularly difficult in that age group.
"Senior citizens might find themselves lonely, disconnected from family or grieving the loss of a spouse or friend," says Jose Mendez, DO, family practitioner on the medical staff at Memorial Regional Hospital, Memorial Hospital West and Memorial Hospital Pembroke. "Some try to ease the pain with alcohol. But if alcohol abuse goes undetected, it can lead to serious psychological and medical conditions."
Warning Signs
"Uncovering alcohol abuse in seniors is like detective work," Dr. Mendez says. "A physician who suspects alcohol abuse will use tools to figure out the alcohol dependency puzzle."
Some tools include:
- Mental tests to identify alcohol abuse and uncover feelings of anxiety and depression
- Physical exams to reveal signs of liver damage, poor blood clotting, high blood pressure and other conditions
- Physical symptoms — including chronic headaches and blackouts — to indicate nerve damage caused by drinking or mixing alcohol and medications; since alcohol affects reaction and coordination, frequent falls are also suspect
"Tests often must be customized, since seniors are not typical alcohol abuse patients," Dr. Mendez says. "Seniors do not exhibit the same signs as young drinkers. And many alcohol-related medical conditions are similar to those found in seniors without abuse problems, such as depression, injuries from falls and congestive heart failure."
Finding Help
If you suspect a friend or loved one of abusing alcohol, here are ways to help them begin to recover:
- Talk to the person about the problem in a non-judgmental way, using examples of how alcohol abuse has affected the person's life
- If the person agrees to seek help, make an appointment to see a physician or find an alcohol abuse support group in your area immediately
- If the person refuses help, explain what will happen if the drinking continues — you will not attend social events with the person, or you might set up an intervention with a healthcare professional to confront the problem
"The most important part of the process is admitting the abuse," Dr. Mendez says. "Once someone admits having a problem, effective treatment can begin."
The SHARE program at the Center for Behavioral Health at Memorial Regional Hospital provides alcohol abuse and substance abuse programs for people of all ages. Depending on the severity of the problem, inpatient and outpatient services are available. For more information, please call (954) 985-1455.
For a referral to a physician, call Memorial Physician Referral Service toll-free at
(800) 944-DOCS. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.