Alcohol Abuse in the Elderly
If you have an elderly loved one and want the best for her, you likely take every step to ensure that your loved one is as safe and comfortable as possible. As your friend or family member ages, you will need to watch him so that you can keep him out of harm’s way.
People are often alert for a range of problems, but they rarely expect an elderly person to fall into the trap of alcoholism. When you want to safeguard the people about whom you care, learn about the problems and red flags of elderly alcoholism. Learning what to expect will improve your odds of detecting the threat in the early stages, and your loved one will thank you.
The Problem With Alcoholism in the Elderly
Although alcoholism can harm anyone, the elderly are at an even greater risk. People older than 60 can experience a range of health problems that will affect the way they think and behave.
The impact of drinking too much can cause a lot of damage to the liver and other organs of elderly individuals, and you don’t want the people you love falling into that trap. Alcohol can have harsh and deadly interactions with many medications, so you want to talk to your loved ones about the threat if your goal is to prevent them from putting themselves in danger.
Common Red Flags
Knowing the red flags of alcoholism in the elderly will work wonders to empower you to fix the problem before it gets out of hand. If your friend or family member is addicted to alcohol, she may drink throughout the day and become agitated when alcohol is not available. Depending on the severity of the problem, your loved one could even face relationship problems. As the cravings progress, alcoholics will overlook other obligations so that they can get their next drink. The situation will spiral out of control in no time unless someone steps in and stops it.
Financial Difficulties
Alcoholics build a tolerance to alcohol over time and require a little more to get the desired effect. This issue can cause people to spend a lot of money on alcoholic beverages, and they will even ignore their financial responsibilities if doing so will provide them with another drink. Your loved one could lose his house and other property if he does not find a way to combat the issue for good. It might be time for you to help manage your loved one’s budget before she loses everything for which she has worked her entire life.
Getting Your Loved One Into a Treatment Center
If you have noticed the red flags of addiction, getting your loved one into a treatment center right away is vital. Letting the problem continue will make it even harder for you to help, but taking proactive steps will take you far. You must speak with compassion so that your loved one will be open to what you need to say. You won’t always be able to convince your family member or friend to go to a rehabilitation center by yourself, and an intervention is another tool you can use if you are not sure where you should turn for support.
Our Approach
Our treatment center focuses on faith-based healing to provide each client with unbeatable results. Although you and your loved one are hopeless when it comes to stopping alcohol abuse on your own, the power of God can deliver you from the problem and let you reach your desired outcome. If you are ready to get started so that you can stop the problem in its tracks, you can reach out to us right away.