ALCOHOL
AWARENESS
H E A LT H C A R E O B S E R VA N C E
National Alcohol
Awareness Month
How Older Adults can Drink
Alcohol Responsibly
Older adults can still drink alcohol but they must do so responsibly.
Learn what drinking responsibly really means as you get older.
How Older Adults can Safely Drink Alcohol
Whether you’re nibbling on sponge cake or watching the sun bake, an
alcoholic drink can sure pair nicely with other things and settings. For
older adults, alcohol consumption is quite common. In fact, over 55%
of older adults 65 and over drink some form of alcohol regularly.
If you’re somebody who enjoys having a drink, we’re not trying to stop
you cold turkey! But while alcohol is not bad in itself, as we get older it
becomes easier to overindulge and lose control.
As we age, we become more sensitive to the effects of alcohol and our
tolerance goes down too. This doesn’t mean we have to toss out the
bottle but we should definitely understand our limits and learn how to
drink responsibly.
55%
Over 55% of older adults
65 and over drink some
form of alcohol regularly.
One drink equals:
One 12-ounce can or
bottle of regular beer,
ale or wine cooler
How Much Should You Drink?
Healthy older adults should not consume more than three drinks a day.
Health problems and particular medications can change the amount you
should drink regularly. If you are unsure of your personal limit, check with
a doctor for accurate and personal recommendations.
There are countless personal accounts of senior adults who gradually
developed a drinking problem over time because they kept the same
drinking patterns from when they were younger. Pay special attention to
your consumption and look for signs that your drinking habits might need
to be reduced for a healthier, still enjoyable, option.
Ross Garza
One 8 or 9 ounce can
or bottle of malt liquor
One 5 ounce glass
of red or white wine
One 1.5 ounce shot glass
of hard liquor (spirits) like
gin, vodka, or whiskey
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H E A LT H C A R E O B S E R VA N C E
ALCOHOL AWARENESS
What Can Happen When You Drink Too Much?
When we get older, we become more susceptible to the dangerous side
effects of consuming too much alcohol. Heavy drinking accelerates
shrinkage, or atrophy, of the brain, which in turn can lead to serious issues
such as Alzheimer’s (source). (pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-4/299-306.htm)
National Alcohol
Awareness Month
Drinking too much alcohol
can accelerate brain atrophy
and immune system decline.
Besides damage to ourselves, we also become less defensive against
infectious diseases (source). This compounds natural immune system
decline as we age.
(www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/alcohol-related-deaths-prevention/en/)
It’s important to realize just how serious drinking too much can be for us
as we age. By choosing to drink responsibly, we can still enjoy ourselves
without endangering our livelihoods in the process.
How to Drink Responsibly
•Count how many ounces of alcohol you are getting in each drink.
Use the guide on the previous page to specifically measure and
track your consumption.
•Don’t drink when taking certain medications. Aspirin, sleeping
pills, pain pills, & cold medicines can be very damaging (source).
Drinking responsibly.
Keep track of
your alcohol
consumption.
(www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/older-adults-and-alcohol/get-facts-aboutaging-and-alcohol)
•Don’t perform activities that are difficult when drinking. If you
have a home caregiver, they can manage your daily activities so
you don’t have to worry about taking care of them. Your home
caregiver is a great option for you to enjoy your independence
but do so in a safe manner.
If you like piña coladas, you don’t have to say no every time. Being
aware of your limits and how much you have had is a great proactive
step to keep your alcohol consumption under control. Keep these tips
in mind so that you can live a healthy life by drinking responsibly.
Ross Garza
Avoid certain
medications.
Your caregiver
can help you
enjoy your
independence.
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