Older adults experience an increasing number of hardships as they age, including loss of friends and loved ones, cognitive impairment, health and financial problems, loneliness, boredom, and physical disabilities. Some older adults struggle with alcohol abuse, some with overuse of prescription medications, and some with both. In fact, alcohol use can complicate almost all aspects of an elderly persons life.

What can you do if you think an elderly loved one in your life is abusing alcohol or other drugs? First, understand that intervening is not the same as interfering. And know that it's never too late to offer help. A good first step is to educate your self about the disease of addiction. Many books, pamphlets, and other materials are available that describe what your older adult may be experiencing and what you can do to help. Physicians, treatment centers, and other helping professionals can provide resources for getting help. A free copy of the Hazelden pamphlet How to Talk to an Older Adult Who Has a Problem with Alcohol or Medications is available on our Web stie or by calling 1-800-I-DO-CARE. This pamphlet describes signs and symptoms of a problem and what steps to take to help.

A common method of helping someone who has an addiction problem is called intervention. An intervention can be conducted by one or more people who know the person well. These people document negative consequences of the loved ones substance abuse, practice how to share observations and feelings in a loving, nonjudgmental way, and then gather to talk with the person to share this information and ask the person to seek treatment. According to Carol Colleran, who counsels older adults in treatment, this version of an intervention is often effective with older adults who have had addiction problems for a long time.

Older adults who have started abusing alcohol or other drugs more recently and have fewer negative consequences built up "often respond better to what we call a brief intervention," Colleran said. In a brief intervention, a friend, relative, or physician talks briefly with the older adult, often in a more spontaneous way when the right moment comes along. "A brief intervention happens when an adult child or a friend sits with the older adult for five minutes and says, 'I'm concerned about what I see,'" said Colleran.

The right tone and word choice can be important to your success. And never attempt to talk with the person while they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. And, adds Colleran, "Older adults are often very sensitive, so you have to use nurturing, non-confrontational, non-blaming language while being able to spell out the issues."

To prepare for an intervention, make a list of the medications the older adult is taking-including over-the-counter medications. Make a list of the doctors the older adult is seeing. Write a brief life history of the older adult including major life events. Make a list that summarizes the older adult's present condition: Can she/he live alone? Care for him/herself? List how drinking or misuse of medicines affects the older adult's health, family, social life, attitudes, etc. Make a list of family members and concerned others who would be willing to help.

When the list making is done, the next step is to decide how best to talk with the older adult. Should the older adult's physician or minister be involved? Or one or two close friends? Perhaps one or more adult children? You will need to decide what to say, how to say it, who will do it, when, and what to do if the older adult is ready-or not ready-to accept help in the form of treatment or other services.

The impact of alcohol use on older adults is significant and can include devastating effects on health. Older adults deserve the same quality of life as anyone else, so take the time to intervene if needed and help your loved one live a sober, quality life.

--Published July 30, 2001