Alcoholism Among the Elderly – Anonymous Alcoholics

Medical studies in the area of alcoholism have found alcoholism among the elderly to be a bigger problem than you might think. What’s really surprising about this trend is that in retrospect, medical investigation suggests that this phenomenon is nothing new. In fact, alcoholism among maturing baby boomers has been a silent threat to the health of these individuals for quite some time now.

Since awareness of this problem was first announced, action to solve the problem has been slow moving. It is estimated that today almost half the elderly individuals suffering from alcoholism remain undetected. When these individuals use their health insurance for check ups and treatment, health care professionals sometimes misdiagnose these patients by focusing on secondary ailments such as dementia, depression, insomnia or gastrointestinal problems. What these physicians fail to realize is that some of these ailments might be attributed to alcoholism.

The type of alcoholism that assails the elderly is called “late onset alcoholism”. This is a distinction from early onset alcoholism that usually begins earlier in life for most individuals. Late onset alcoholism, on the other hand, is developed by the elderly usually in response to situations unique to this age bracket.

For instance, death of a spouse, worrying about money, moving to a retirement home, or being away from family are some of the triggers that can initiate alcoholism and drug dependence among the elderly. Another trigger that may be unique to this demographic group is despair and depression from lifestyle challenges brought about by physical problems that come with old age.

Children should note that moving their parents to a retirement home may create the exact environment that fosters alcoholism. The depression that may set in from being placed in a home may lead the elderly to alcoholism, and the ironic truth is that a home provides many opportunities to drink and feed the alcoholic depressive mindset.

Women seem more prone toward late onset alcoholism than men. Also, men are more likely to admit they have a problem and seek help for this condition, while women tend to suffer silently in guilt and shame. Additionally, the inability of family members to recognize and come to grips with the fact that mom or dad is now an alcoholic impedes the individual suffering from alcoholism from seeking help and getting out of the condition.

Some of the elderly diagnosed with alcoholism may look to the government for treatment. Government issued medical insurance may pay for some treatment, but it will probably be insufficient to cover the entire costs. The correct treatment needed by the elderly suffering from alcoholism is pretty much a holistic approach that is used for other alcoholics of a younger demographic.

Alcoholism among the elderly is a dangerous problem for several reasons. As we age, the body’s physiology changes and our usual tolerance for alcohol is greatly decreased. This means that a standard drink may have double the effect on an elderly individual than on a younger one. This means that the harsh damaging effects of alcohol can be much stronger and therefore more lethal among the elderly. In fact, studies indicate that alcoholism causes more deaths among the elderly than cardiovascular disease.

Elderly people are, also, usually on heavy medications for many physiological conditions caused by aging. Alcohol creates an adverse effect when combined with most medications. Mixing alcohol with some medications can even lead to death. Also, you have the problem where some elderly may suffer from physical trauma from falls and accidents caused by excessive alcoholic consumption and alcoholism.

Detecting alcoholism among the elderly is not easy, but care givers can help identify some of the problem signs that may be indicative of the condition. For instance, frequent falls may be due to alcoholism more than any other reason. Signs of alcoholism must be looked for especially if the elderly being cared for has recently experienced a loss and is prone to bouts of depression and despair.

More attention must be given to identifying and helping the elderly suffering from alcoholism, as it’s been estimated that one out of six baby boomers will suffer from late onset alcoholism. As the population continues to age, the problem of alcoholism among the elderly will become a big social problem, and an even bigger economic problem as well.

Respectfully submitted by Idaline Hall. For more useful insider secrets you might find interesting in the areas of home, relationships, and aging, visit: http://quickhelptips.com/.