Alcoholism in the elderly sometimes go unnoticed. What you may not realize, however, is that alcoholism brings about many risks for the elderly’s weakening health. Is recovery still possible? Find out in this article.
Let’s admit it. There are many seniors today that are still abusing alcohol despite their age and the many health problems they face. Unfortunately, we just chalk this up to their stubbornness. What we don’t realize is this could be a life-long battle with alcoholism or alcohol addiction.
There may also be elderly people who use alcohol to cope with their loneliness and isolation. Perhaps their partner or spouse has died and they started drinking more frequently to get through the grief until it became a daily habit.
It’s hard to diagnose alcoholism or alcohol addiction in seniors because they may have other seemingly more pressing health problems. Another thing is medical professionals are not trained to watch out for signs of addiction, unlike rehab professionals such as those in our center in Bridges of Hope.
Still, the risk is there. In fact, elderly people who struggle with alcoholism or alcohol addiction are at a higher risk. Seniors metabolize alcohol more slowly, so the effects of alcohol stay in their body longer.
The effects of alcohol also put them at an increased risk of falling, resulting to broken hips and other accidents. They may also have blackouts, which can be serious for their old age. These signs of alcoholism can cause serious injuries and more health complications.
Drinking may also make already compromised health conditions even worse. After all, alcohol should not be mixed with certain medication that elderly people need.
If you know someone in your family, like a grandparent or parent who you suspect is abusing alcohol or has alcoholism, seek help for them immediately. Treatment must be sought before anything worse happens. Finding the right treatment can make a difference to them living a higher quality of life and in restoring their health.
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