Alcohol abuse is common in the elderly; however, it is not a good practice and is not recommended from a medical point of view. It is not recommended because as you age, you’re metabolism and many physiologic functions decline, due to which alcohol detoxification reduces. This article discusses the management of alcohol-related problems in the elderly.
How alcohol affects in elderly
Primarily alcohol effects on the body are the same as in early adulthood, but the severity of symptoms increases as you age. This is due to slowing down physiologic function in the body. As physiologic function slows down, your metabolism also slows down, resulting in slower detoxification of alcohol from the body. Having said that, slower detoxification of alcohol leads to high severity of the after-effects of alcohol, which can lead to a higher risk of injuries, falls, car crashes, and other unintentional incidents.
Five ways to overcome alcohol misuse in elderly
Overcoming alcohol misuse is a long and time-consuming process, but it is not impossible to overcome alcohol misuse. Efforts pay off.
Below are five ways by adopting which you can overcome alcohol misuse.
1. Set goals for yourself
Once you’ve decided to change yourself, you must set goals. The more realistic and easy-to-follow goals, the more you can implement them quickly. For example, you can develop a plan to stop drinking alcohol but also set quitting date. Till then, you can limit the use.
2. Speak to therapist
If you cannot quit alcohol alone, you must get help from a psychotherapist. He can help you to terminate or limit the use of alcohol through your mental counseling. You can seek psychotherapy sessions online and physically; it’s up to your comfort and choice.
3. Do not cut back on alcohol suddenly
You should not quit taking alcohol all of a sudden. It would help if you leave taking alcohol at a gradual pace to make sure addiction doesn’t come back, as quitting gradually will help to make your body habitual of no or less alcohol slowly. Moreover, it will reduce the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
4. Determine to change
It is crucial to make up a mindset to change yourself because until an individual does not make up his mind to change, no one can force that individual to change and accept anything new. In short, self-determination is essential to change.
5. Get family support
Family support is essential as it gives you the motivation to change. Without family support, you might change your mindset easily. To get family support, you must become close to your family members and spend time with them.
Take away home
Alcohol misuse in older age is harmful as when you age, your ability to detoxify alcohol lessens, and the longer the alcohol stays in your body, the worst the effect of alcohol. Alcohol may severely damage your liver, kidneys, and brain. Alcohol can also interfere with how your body fights diseases. Tips like setting goals and getting family support can help overcome alcohol misuse.