Health Topics for Aging

Nursing Homes/Care Centers

Geriatric Assessment Clinic

Alcohol and aging

Alcohol abuse is a much bigger problem in older adults than many people realize. Unfortunately, many older adults drink because they think that since their health has not been affected by their drinking in the past that it is okay to continue to drink. Drinking may also be a way for them to deal with significant losses in their lives. Many have no idea that they may be destroying their health through the use of alcohol.

With more recent advances in medicine, we know much more about the bad effects of alcohol on the body. How much is too much? It is recommended that people over age 65 have no more than one drink a day. That one drink can be a glass of wine, a can of beer, or a mixed drink.

For people on certain medications, it may be dangerous to drink any alcohol. Older drinkers are likely to be on medications. These medications do not mix with alcohol. Keeping balance while walking or standing becomes more difficult with age and alcohol makes the problem worse. Falls and other injuries are more common with alcohol use.

Older people who drink 3 or 4 drinks every day and have never had any problems still need to cut down on the use of alcohol. Why cut back on alcohol?

• alcohol has a stronger effect in older people than it does in younger people
• reaction time slows down with age and alcohol slows it even more
• mental confusion can occur from drinking too much
• alcohol can make some health problems worse
• important physical signs like pain may be ignored when drinking
• large doses of acetaminophen and drinking can cause liver damage and
• all of these reasons can affect health and safety

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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