Women of all ages with alcohol problems tend to be more secretive about their drinking than are men. Signs of alcohol problems in older people are often mistaken for signs of aging or chronic illness. Alcohol problems in later life increase the chance of suicide. Alcohol is a stimulant and makes older persons feel younger and more energetic. Memory problems may be a sign of depression.
Depression is easy to recognize in an older person who is physically ill.
A complete medical evaluation is needed to rule out physical reasons for depression. There is a higher suicide rate among the elderly than among younger adults. Most older people who talk about committing suicide are not serious. Health professionals often have difficulty diagnosing depression in the older person. Quiz One Answers.