Alcohol addiction doesn’t only affect teenagers and adults. There is a rising number of elders who are struggling with alcohol addiction and drinking problems as they assume many changes in their life. In 2008, a national survey has found that almost 50 percent of adults ages 65 and above drink alcohol.
Elders have many reasons why they resort to alcohol during their old age. Their children are all grown up and already left; they have fewer friends; they feel isolated; or they have health problems. Being old means you face many life changes, including marriage, family, job, health and finances. Not all people are strong enough to face these challenges and some of them choose alcohol in order to cope up. If you notice that your father/ mother/ grandfather/ grandmother display some of these signs, they are more likely facing a drinking problem:
Statistics of alcohol drinking among elderly:
Often times, alcohol use disorder or alcohol addiction is misdiagnosed among elderly people. This happens because the symptoms of alcohol abuse are misinterpreted as symptoms of their medical or behavioral conditions. It has also been found that older adults are not properly screened for this condition due to insufficient training or bias for the belief that addiction is not worth treating among older people. Due to the shame and stigma attached to elderly people who have substance addiction, some families are ashamed to bring their parents/ grandparents for consultation. Younger generations also believe that there is no need to seek treatment for the older family member’s drinking problem because they think that’s the only thing that is making them happy. If you notice that your elders have an alcohol addiction, do not disregard the problem. Address it right away. There are support groups that can help; therapists and addiction rehab centers that can treat them and help them face a life without alcohol. |