Alcoholism in Older People

QUESTION: Why would a woman, who virtually never took a hard drink in her
life, suddenly become an alcoholic? On a regular visit to my mother, we
became aware of a change in her living habits, and discovered a trash can full
of empty bottles, mostly vodka, hidden in the basement. Her neighbors have
also noted unexplainable actions that just don't fit. What is happening here
and how can we help?
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ANSWER: Obviously, there may be many explanations for changes of behavior in
an older woman, but I will go along with your supposition, based on the
unusual findings in the basement trash can. Alcoholism in older people
differs greatly from the disease we find in younger people, and there is a
classification of people who start drinking in later life called "reactors"
who use alcohol as a response to the stresses that accompany aging. It is
more frequent in women than men and about one third of drinking problems of
the elderly fall into this category. They do not obtain the "high" that young
drinkers seek, but may have memory lapses, headaches and confusion as a reward
for their alcohol intake. Their response to alcohol is also much stronger
because of their age-changed physical make up and physiology. The most
difficult part in the process of diagnosis and treatment is recognizing that
the problem is not simply a change of aging, but has an actual basis in the
overuse of alcohol. Once you can get your mother to admit to the practice,
she probably will do well with therapy. She may be reluctant to enter an
institution for care, and persuasion is a better tactic than confrontation;
but once in counseling programs, older people tend to be reliable about
attending meetings and sessions. You may also have to examine her current
life style and its implications as part of the cause of the problem. Changes
may be required, but with the knowledge of family support, careful attention
to her personal needs and expectations, and professional assistance, the
chances of beating this late blooming problem are optimistic.