Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
Medically Reviewed by Annamarie Coy, BA, ICPR, MATS
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Heavy drinking entails consuming 15 or more per week for men and 8 or more for women. Data shows that about 6% of older people drink heavily. The majority of these heavy drinkers are older men.
Older adults may drink for several reasons. But more than that, understanding why older people drink and the available treatment options helps if you or a senior loved one struggles with alcohol use disorder (AUD).
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends limiting alcohol consumption to two drinks or less (for men) and one drink or less (for women) daily.
Regardless of the volume of intake, drinking alcohol when you’re an older adult puts you at increased risk of:
Thus, alcohol problems bring increased safety concerns in the elderly.
Between 2006 and 2016, alcohol-related medical injuries in older adults increased by 50% because of:
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The health risks associated with alcoholism are abundant at any age. However, because it becomes more challenging to maintain good health as we age, the effects of drinking too much alcohol are especially detrimental for seniors.
Some of the most common alcohol-related health complications among older adults include:
Many older adults take prescribed and over-the-counter medications that can make alcohol use disorder even deadlier. Combined with alcohol, pain medication, or even cold and allergy medicines, the presence of all these in their systems can lead to potentially fatal consequences.
Medications commonly prescribed to older adults that interact dangerously with drinking habits include the following:
Some effects associated with mixing alcohol and medication include:
Older adults are at higher risk of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, leading to fatal seizures, delirium tremens (shaking frenzy), falls, and cardiac arrest.
Plus, existing health problems and geriatric mental health conditions make elderly patients experiencing withdrawal more likely to experience accelerated decline. Thus, early detection of alcohol misuse is imperative.
Seniors already have a heightened risk of many of these health issues. Drinking too much alcohol further increases the risks they face.
Binge drinking in older adults can influence how the body heals, affecting how an individual ages. Over time, lean body mass in seniors declines, leaving less muscle to absorb alcohol.
Alcohol’s other effects on elderly bodies include:
There is no hard evidence that alcohol use directly causes aging. However, alcohol dehydrates you and is a diuretic, pulling fluids out of your body and sapping the skin of moisture.
With regular use, alcohol-induced dehydration can cause sagginess, dryness, and wrinkling. Other skin-related issues that result from alcohol use in older adults include broken capillaries, which tend to burst after heavy drinking.
Burst capillaries appear as red, splotchy spots on the skin and are more likely to be visible in the elderly. Older adults who drink alcohol regularly are also 33% more likely to develop arcus senilis, or aging around the eyes.
Heavy alcohol use in older adults can increase the risk of developing dementia.
According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), elderly patients who drink heavily are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and related health problems than those who drink moderately.
When an older person engages in heavy drinking, their bodies produce less vitamin thiamine B1, potentially leading to Korsakoff’s Syndrome, which impacts short-term memory.
Signs of alcohol-related dementia include the following:
An assessment for alcohol-related dementia might include a paper-based test, physical exam, and brain scan. It’s challenging to diagnose dementia in older adults who misuse alcohol, especially if they already suffer from memory-related conditions.
Many professionals recommend that the person quit drinking before undergoing a medical assessment for memory problems.
Alcohol treatment for older adults with dementia will likely occur in-hospital, as withdrawals can cause delirium. In severe cases, the person may become increasingly agitated or experience hallucinations.
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Widowers over 75 tend to struggle the most with alcohol use disorder. More than 10% of all hospital admissions among the elderly are linked to drug and alcohol use. It’s estimated that more than half of all nursing home residents have alcohol-related problems.
Reasons why seniors struggle with alcoholism can include:
There is no single cause of alcoholism in older adults. Some seniors use alcohol as a coping tool to help them deal with the challenges they face in their later years.
Like cases of alcoholism in any other age group, the reasons are as varied as the individuals with the problem. The challenges that occur as we age are as tricky as those we face at any age and many turn to alcohol to cope.
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There are different types of alcoholics, alcoholic personalities, and tolerances. The health effects are the same, especially in the long-term.
Knowing the symptoms of AUD in older people helps you recognize if you or a loved one has a problem.
Symptoms of alcoholism in the elderly include:
Some seniors feel as if they have “outlived their usefulness.” Their children are grown; they’ve retired; they don’t have the same responsibilities they did when they were younger.
Some people welcome the relief of having no obligations, but others struggle with it. Some turn to alcohol to escape these negative feelings. Instead of searching for meaning later in life, they use alcohol as a coping strategy.
There are several treatments available to help seniors with alcohol use disorder.
Some of the most common treatment approaches include:
Although it’s possible to participate in a generic treatment program for adults, many seniors benefit from treatment in a facility tailored to their age group. These programs tend to have a slower pace and are less confrontational than the other options.
In addition, seniors can suffer from co-occurring substance abuse and mood disorders, which may lead to a dual diagnosis. Fortunately, many dual-diagnosis treatment programs can rectify both conditions.
For seniors with solid support systems at home, outpatient treatment may suffice and comprises two primary options:
These hospital-based treatment programs include:
IOPs occur 3 to 5 days per week, with a total of at least 9 hours. These programs aim to reverse the effects of failing health by:
Seniors who live far away from their immediate family may benefit more from inpatient programs, as these facilities can provide 24/7 care that facilitates access to medical services on-demand.
There are also 12-step programs designed for older people.
Families on a budget can consider state-funded treatment programs, which typically cover detox, housing, therapy, and additional support. Patients can typically access these programs with Medicare or Medicaid.
By comparison, private rehabilitation facilities may include additional amenities.
Private or luxury rehabilitation amenities can include:
Medication-assisted alcohol treatment is rarely used for seniors because two of the medications—disulfiram and naltrexone—are not safe for older patients with AUD.
Disulfiram increases the risk of serious side effects in seniors. Naltrexone, which reduces alcohol cravings, has not been evaluated in treating older patients.
Doctors encourage family members of seniors with AUD to take an active role in their loved one’s recovery.
Family support is important for more people with addiction, especially older adults needing cognitive and physical support. For some, transitioning from a treatment program to a nursing home is the safest and healthiest option.
According to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), insurance companies must cover alcohol misuse in seniors. Alternatively, you can enroll your loved one in a federal Medicare insurance program, which provides coverage for alcohol abuse and alcoholism in adults over 65.
Rising alcohol use in seniors is a global health pandemic that family members can work to rectify together. If your senior family member is addicted to alcohol, here are a few ways to help them stop drinking.
Consider whether your loved one is experiencing a health-related issue or recent emotional trauma. Note signs, particularly:
Staying in touch with your loved one can provide unbeatable mental benefits. If you live away from your loved one, consider hiring a caregiver who can help you stay in touch.
Many older adults develop alcohol problems because of poor coping mechanisms. Provide your loved one with healthier ways to cope through exercise, relaxation techniques, and enjoyable activities.
If your loved one enjoys the taste of liquor, beer, or wine, consider providing nonalcoholic products that taste similar. Use these alternatives as a stepping-stone toward eliminating alcohol from the household entirely.
If your loved one is still physically able, encouraging them to serve their local community through volunteer opportunities can keep them occupied and inspired.
Together, you can participate in food drives or summer programs. They might even consider mentoring younger people who have struggled with similar problems.
Older adults may turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism for loneliness, financial issues, or grief. This increases the risk of falls and accidents and exacerbates existing health conditions. Alcohol use in the elderly may also affect the body’s restorative abilities, potentially causing alcohol-related dementia.
Fortunately, medication-assisted treatment programs for seniors are plentiful, along with inpatient and outpatient options. You can support a senior family member struggling with alcoholism by identifying their triggers, encouraging healthier coping mechanisms, and finding more fulfilling activities to enjoy with friends and family.
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