This can lead to a downward cycle of feeling worse and worse and drinking more and more. Drinking among the elderly is complicated by retirement, ill health, loss of loved ones, and isolation. Furthermore, seniors typically take a lot of medication and alcohol in combination with medication can cause serious side effects. Frequently, late onset alcoholism is misdiagnosed because it is confused with other aging symptoms such as incontinence, dementia, and depression. As a result, doctors fail to make the diagnosis and the alcoholism runs riot, to use AA's term.
Seniors respond well to treatment and there are a wide variety of treatment options.
The most common is Alcoholics Anonymous. AA is everywhere, its free, the meetings are usually handicapped accessible, it is a peer program, and it provides a strong support system. Most importantly, it works. Plus, there are virtual meetings online. Most, if not all, communities have public alcoholism treatment services.