Alcohol and Aging: Facts to be Aware Of
December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, and this week we will bring awareness to the topic of alcohol and aging. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve — two of the most celebrated days of the year — also happen to be among the most deadly, according to the National Safety Council. While this applies to people of all ages, today we’ll focus on older people in senior care in San Mateo and elsewhere. Many older individuals are facing the prospect of giving up their keys forever, either by self-admission or through their families’ insistence.
While alcohol impairs driving, other factors in the elderly do as well, such as slower reaction time and cognitive decline. Here are some facts to be aware of when it comes to alcohol and aging.
Alcohol Use is Increasing
The older adult population is increasing at a rapid rate, and so too is alcohol use among them. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 20 percent of adults between the ages of 60 and 64 and 11 percent over the age of 65 report current binge drinking. The use of alcohol in older adults can lead to many problems, especially in people who take certain medications, have pre-existing health problems, and drink heavily.
In addition, there are other considerations older adults who drink have to contend with, including:
Increased Sensitivity to Alcohol: Aging lowers the body’s tolerance for alcohol. This means that older adults can feel the effects of alcohol faster than when they were young adults, increasing their risk for falls, car accidents, and other unintentional injuries.
Increased Health Problems: Heavy drinking can worsen certain health conditions, such as:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Liver problems
- Congestive heart failure
- Memory problems
- Osteoporosis
- Mood disorders
Medication Interactions: Many prescription and OTC medications, and even herbal remedies, can be dangerous or deadly when consumed with alcohol. Common medications that cause concerning interactions with alcohol include:
- Aspirin
- Acetaminophen
- Cough syrup
- Cold and allergy medicine
- Pain medication
- Sleeping pills
- Anxiety or depression medicine
Guidelines for Alcohol Consumption: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have set dietary guidelines about what and how much the average American should eat and drink to prevent chronic disease and promote overall health. In a nutshell, they suggest older adults not drink at all or to limit their intake to two drinks per day for men and one drink for women. However, certain adults should avoid alcohol altogether, such as those who:
- Drive or operate machinery, or engage in activities that require alertness, skill, and coordination
- Take certain OTC or prescription medications
- Have a medical condition that alcohol can worsen
- Are recovering from alcohol use disorder (AUD)
Quick Facts About Alcohol and Elderly
As the caregiver for your loved one, it’s important not to overlook concerns about the older people in your life who drink, especially those in senior care. This can be tough, though, as the side effects of drinking can often be mistaken for other conditions associated with aging, such as coordination and balance problems. Here are some facts as per the National Institute on Aging.
Older adults who drink too much at once on any given day, or who have too many drinks in a week can be exposed to increased risk of harmful consequences, such as falls and health problems, and are at a higher risk of developing AUD.
Drinking too much alcohol over long periods can:
- Result in a higher chance of certain kinds of cancer, immune system disorders, liver damage, and brain damage
- Worsen health conditions such as diabetes, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, stroke, ulcers, mood disorders, and memory loss
- Make some medical conditions difficult for physicians to diagnose and treat. Alcohol can cause changes in the heart and blood vessels, for example, which could minimize pain that might be a red flag for a heart attack.
- Cause confusion, which can mimic signs of Alzheimer’s disease
Mixing medications with alcohol can also be deadly.
- Those who take aspirin and drink alcohol are at an increased risk of stomach or intestinal bleeding.
- Cold and allergy medicines can make people very sleepy when combined with alcohol.
- Alcohol coupled with large doses of acetaminophen can lead to liver damage.
- Cough syrups and laxatives both have a high alcohol content, which can heighten the effects of alcohol.
- Alcohol used in conjunction with pain pills, sleeping pills, or anxiety/anti-depression medicines can be deadly.
Alcohol also affects an older person’s safety.
- Even consuming a small amount of alcohol can result in deadly situations, as it impairs judgment, reaction time, and coordination. This in turn increases the risk of falls and car accidents.
- Alcohol factors in 30 percent of fatal motor vehicle crashes and suicides, 50 percent of fatal drownings and homicides, 40 percent of fatal burn injuries, and 65 percent of fatal falls. While alcohol can lead to falls and balance problems in everyone, this is even more so in older adults. Hip or arm fractures often result from such falls, as elderly people have thinner bones that can break more easily.
Contact Pathways Home Health and Hospice
We offer exceptional senior care in San Mateo and elsewhere thanks to our trained caregivers here at Pathways. To learn more about our senior care services, contact us at 888-978-1306.
