Senior Interventions for Alcoholism
Senior Interventions for Alcoholism
Senior Alcoholism is not very uncommon in the United States. The healthy consumption of alcohol at age above 65 is seven drinks a day. But more than 15% exceed this limit, and they come under high-risk populations. So if you are worried about senior interventions for alcoholism in your elderly, remember that you are not alone.
The senior substance abuse is unfortunately not properly addressed. Alcohol consumption in the elderly can be dangerous in many ways. It depends on senior substance abuse and its features. Sometimes people can control their alcohol, but mostly it consumes their lives.
When you are looking forward to taking care of your elderly properly and safe them from any disaster look for the symptoms of alcohol abuse first. For instance:
- They drink more than one.
- They finish the drink in one gulp
- High tolerance against alcohol and need more drinks to feel its effects
- Being unreasonable while sober
- Having issue those leads to the alcoholism like financial or medical issues.
- Instances of hurting people or themselves while drunk
- Lying about drinking habits.
Do’s and what not to do?
When you found some or few of these symptoms in your elderly that means it leads to senior substance abuse. You can go for senior alcohol treatment, and it is a long process. First, you need to intervene carefully to get them mentally prepared and stop substance abuse. Here are a few do’s and not-to-do’s for senior addiction interventions.
- Check the time that fits:
It is not good to start talking about alcohol abuse anytime you visit them. Choose appropriate times like when they are in better condition when they are sober, and there are experiencing bad effects of the drinking problem like hangover headaches.
You can take them about alcohol-related issues and symptoms which emerge with alcohol abuse. If you try to talk them out while they are drinking or already gulped two or more shots, then it is really hard to convince them to leave it. They will also not be in the situation of discussion while drunk.
- Talk with love and respect:
When you are talking with the senior, it should be different than talking to a pal of your age. Age leaves a negative effect on decision-making, and people ignore their health. Many elderly ignore the risk of excessive alcohol consumption as they are already old. They also say that now they can do anything they want as they are elderly and no one can make them do things.
The talk to senior alcohol interventions can make them feel like talking down. They need to treat the elderly, not treated like a child at home. Respect and love are entitled to them with their age, and while convincing them out of substance abuse, you have to be careful about it.
So whenever you are talking to them about alcohol abuse, make sure you have a tone of utter love and respect. Respecting and giving love is an effective way of treating someone, and asking them to understand what they are doing is not good for their health and can cause many issues. It will also help them acknowledge your point of view.
- Do not use labels:
Labels are often offensive, and soon after you say, someone alcoholic, they might get offensive or go the defense state. That is why it is better to talk without using words like addiction and alcoholic. It carries a negative and offensive statement, and the elderly might feel strongly offended by it. The words bring stigma, and with stigma, there comes shame. It might happen that using words might do more harm than benefits.
It can also cause you to lose your opportunity to bring the person back to the senses, and they might not value your opinion after that. Senior alcoholism is a serious matter. So try not to lose the connection between your elderly, and you talk to them with love and support and leave the labels to diagnosing people like a therapist who treats the issue.
- Talk about alcohol-related concerns:
Talk to the elderly about the serious consequences of alcohol consumption along with physical, social, and financial consequences. For instance, you can talk to them about how lonely they have due to their alcohol consumption habits. Depression and stress are also one of the effects of senior substance abuse. Also, mention politely how it is making a huge dent in their finance.
- Senior alcohol treatment:
Most of the alcoholic related issues cannot be talked out only. It would be best if you mentioned senior alcohol treatment. It is the best option for the recovery of elderly people. Many studies have shown that treatment is one of the best senior addiction interventions.
They will have better outcomes with alcohol treatment. The senior alcohol treatment includes therapies, counseling, and medically supervised detox treatment.
Conclusion:
Senior substance abuse is a serious concern, but your elderly can lead happy and healthy years of their lives with your interventions, love care, and treatment.