Among those age 65 and older, an estimated 2 to 10 percent have a significant alcohol problem. In addition, alcoholics are at a high risk for malnutrition because of their decreased caloric and protein intake as well as malabsorption related to gastric problems. The majority are young alcoholics who have survived into late life despite their alcoholism.
Older alcoholics are typically noncompliant with treatment and have a poor health prognosis.
An individual may become a late-onset alcoholic in response to specific stressors and losses in late life. Late-onset alcoholics are usually the most responsive to treatment in an alcohol recovery program. This is primarily due to age-related changes in the absorption and distribution of alcohol. In addition, the amount of alcohol that is safe may be much lower among individuals who are taking medications. Many of the drugs commonly used by older people can interact adversely with alcohol.