PIEPER: Alcohol abuse among seniors only magnifies the challenges of aging

Alcoholism among seniors now approaches the 4.5 million mark. That is about one million seniors less than those afflicted with Alzheimer's disease and that makes it a significant health problem, both in itself and in how it affects other illnesses associated with aging. About 1.5 million of these alcoholics are categorized as late onset alcoholics who develop the disease after becoming a senior.

These late onset alcoholics have not exhibited alcoholism throughout their lives. They are most likely to be affected by aging related issues such as the losses of relationships, and those issues associated with retirement and declining health. For some it is just a way to deal with boredom.

Some seniors become alcoholics without changing their lifetime drinking patterns. What does change is that seniors don't tolerate alcohol as well as they did when they were younger. Those two drinks that had only minimal impact in the past now have much more impact. Seniors who consume alcohol should measure the impact of alcohol not by how much they drink, but by the effect it has on them.

Your relatives may be more effective in determining if you have an alcohol related problem than you yourself. For instance, they may notice behavior changes in self-concept or coping abilities.

In addition, they might be more likely to notice increased episodes of memory loss or confusion that may be associated with alcohol use. Sudden changes in behavior such as becoming more argumentative and increasing self isolation are potential problems.

Some late onset drinkers increasingly ignore what gerontologists refer to as activities of daily living. This includes the desire to dress, eat and bathe properly. Of course, ignoring medical treatments and prescribed drugs are major issues of concern. Falls, which are already a major problem, become more problematic. The impact of many chronic illnesses becomes worse as do confusion and depression. Late onset alcoholism may also be associated with other conditions such as dementia or the side effects of prescribed drugs.

Determining if late onset alcoholism is present requires often discouraging and embarrassing discussions with the senior. However, it is essential that alcoholism be dealt with. Not only is it a significant issue affecting the current quality of life, but it makes a great many other health related situations that are normally associated with aging a lot worse.

The senior's physician must be made aware of the patient's suspected alcoholism. Alcoholism could potentially affect prescribed treatments. About half of the drugs that are most frequently prescribed can be affected by alcohol use, which may weaken or strengthen the impact of the prescription.

On the positive side, treatment of late onset alcoholics can be very successful. Since social issues are often a primary cause, changing problematic social patterns of living can be useful. Social interactions, such as volunteer activities and increased involvement with personal interests can have a positive effect.

Email Hanns Pieper at dp5@evansville.edu. He is emeritus professor of sociology and gerontology at the University of Evansville.