Over the past several years, a movement has gained popularity which encourages people to take a break from drinking alcohol during the month of January. Known as “Dry January,” this is a great effort to bring awareness to just how much a person may be drinking without even realizing it. A recent study which links alcohol to seven types of different cancers has shined a new light on the debilitating effects of drinking.

Dry January is also a good time to raise awareness of the growing concern about drinking among older adults. Many people believe it is underdiagnosed because signs of too much drinking can mimic signs of normal aging.

Older adults who drink are at an increased risk of falls, memory problems, and drug interactions with medications. Because these risks mimic what can happen during the aging process, having someone in close contact with your older adult made aware of any increase in drinking makes intervention easier. Because our Springpoint at Home Certified Home Health Aides and Aging Life Care Advisors™ are familiar with your older adult, they can play a role in helping to identify health concerns, including that of increased drinking.

Depending upon the health history of your older adult, what we consider a “normal” amount, such as a drink a day, can be a problem. Our older adults are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol because of the decline in lean body mass and a reduced ability for an enzyme to break down alcohol. There is also an increased risk of dehydration because alcohol can increase urination.

In addition, older adults have health issues that can be exacerbated by heavy drinking. Diabetes, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and memory problems are just a few that drinking can affect. Many older adults take over the counter medications like aspirin, acetaminophen, cold and allergy medicine, and pain medication (to name just a few). These, along with many herbal remedies, do not mix well with alcohol. In addition, alcohol can make some of these medications ineffective or increase the side effects.

So, how do family members (or a Springpoint at Home staff member) recognize signs of alcohol abuse in your older adult? It is tricky and having someone with eyes on the older adult is important. These signs of abuse often mimic signs of aging:

• Memory problems or cognitive decline
• Changes In appetite or sleep
• Falls or accidents increase
• Changes in mood or behavior
• Neglecting hygiene or appearance
• Withdrawal from social interaction

Any of these signs of aging are cause for further investigation, whether they are related to alcohol or not. But addressing a concern about drinking is a sensitive subject which requires open communication. These difficult conversations can be made easier with a neutral third party serving as a mediator. Springpoint at Home’s Aging Life Care Advisors™ are experts in these types of conversations and interventions. In addition, they are available to transport your older adult to medical appointments, whether it is for a physical ailment or an evaluation for drinking.

For more information on how Springpoint at Home can help, please call: 609-301-2101.