Elderly couple
who still like a drink
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Alcohol and
the older person can hold special dangers.
Bodies work less
efficiently in later life and experience of safe drinking levels
in younger days may prove an unreliable guide as time goes by and
circumstances change.
For this reason
older people’s livers and kidneys tend to be slower at expelling
alcohol from the bloodstream. This means that the effects of alcohol
on the brain and the liver are longer lasting.
Alcohol can
aggravate various other health problems, e.g. high blood pressure,
digestive disorders, poor circulation – from which older people
are more likely to suffer.
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| Blood pressure
monitor |
Alcohol can
interfere with a person’s ability to remember things and may
contribute to confusion and short-term memory loss.
For people
who are already frail or unsteady, there may be increased likelihood
of falls and accidents if they drink alcohol.
Alcohol can
increase the likelihood of incontinence in older people.
Alcohol is
a depressant drug, not a stimulant. Too much of it slows reactions
& can make people feel depressed.
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| Depressed
man |
There is very
little food value in alcoholic drinks and people who drink instead
of eating may suffer from malnutrition. It is important to buy enough
nourishing food!
Alcohol is expensive
and may lead to an increase in financial problems, especially for
people who are already on low incomes.
Alcohol does
not warm the body - it cools it down. People who feel cold should
not drink it and no one suffering from hypothermia should ever be
given it.
Prescribed
drugs such as sedatives, tranquillisers and sleeping pills should
not be mixed with alcohol. Over-the-counter painkillers and cold
remedies may be dangerous too. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if
it is safe to drink alcohol with any medicine you are taking.
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| Sleeping
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Sadly some elderly
people suffer bereavement, lose confidence and become isolated and
lonely. Others may suffer from chronic pain, disability or insomnia.
For these people there is a temptation to self-medicate. They escape
temporarily from negative experiences and feelings.
Alcohol may
seem to offer relief in the short term, but it often makes the problems
worse or impairs the person’s ability to come to terms with
them or find solutions to them.
People who drink
to relieve stress can very quickly become psychologically dependent
on alcohol and can come to believe they can’t cope without
it.
If you are
caring for an older person:
If
an older person in your care appears confused and their co-ordination
seems to be deteriorating your first port of call is to speak to
your GP, who will help advise you or refer to an expert.
Sometimes alcohol
problems are overlooked or misdiagnosed as senile dementia. On the
other hand, diabetes or Parkinson’s disease occasionally goes
undiagnosed because a person is known to enjoy a drink. Be alcohol-aware
– but don’t jump to conclusions!
Carers themselves
may become over tired or anxious and may be at risk of drinking
to relieve stress. It is important to look after your own health
and to seek help and support sooner rather than later.
Alcohol
and the risk of fire:
Some
homes are more vulnerable to the risk of fire than others. Generally,
households where there are young children, elderly persons or smokers
are more likely to have fires than other households. There are obvious
reasons for this!
However, not
many people know that there are other less obvious added risk factors.
One of these is the use of alcohol and other mood altering drugs.
People who have had a drink may become confused, forgetful or may
fail to foresee the consequences of their actions. They are also,
therefore, less likely to be aware of the development of a fire.
To help protect yourself always ensure you have a correctly fitted
and working Smoke Alarm. They cost as little as £5.00 and
can save your life. Always look for the BS5446 part 1, and make
sure it carries the British Standard Kite Mark.
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