Alcoholism in the Elderly

Alcoholism in the elderly often goes undetected because older people may have less social interaction with others who can help identify drinking problems and provide an avenue to recovery.

Physiological changes that occur as part of the aging process make older people increasingly vulnerable to alcohol's effects and experience problems at lower levels of consumption.

Alcohol Concern, a national agency in England dedicated to reducing alcohol abuse and dependence, reports that contributing factors to the onset of drinking problems in older adults may include physical or mental illness, loneliness, sense of loss, lack of employment or purpose, and death of a loved one.

Alcohol can increase the risk of falls and accidents, exacerbate problems with insomnia, advance the likelihood of incontinence, as well as contribute to short and long-term memory problems, depression and dementia.

To help identify alcoholism in the elderly, the American Medical Association lists the following physical symptoms doctors can look for when diagnosing a drinking problem. If an older patient shows several symptoms, there is a high probability the person may be alcohol dependent and needs to seek help.

• Bruises, abrasions, and scars in locations that might suggest frequent falls, bumping into objects, or physical altercations.

• Cigarette burns on the fingers.

• Flushed or florid faces.

• Jerky eye movement or loss of central vision.

• Damage to nerves causing numbness and tingling.

• Hypertension, particularly systolic.

• Gastrointestinal or other bleeding.

• Cirrhosis or other evidence of liver impairment, such as edema in the lower extremities, and other signs of fluid retention.

• Psoriasis and signs of immunodeficient disorders.

Sources: (1) Alcohol Concern, Fact Sheet: "Alcohol Misuse Among Older People" June 2007 (2) http://www.agingandaddiction.net/alcohol.html

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