Alcohol is sometimes used to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression—feelings that can increase when we have the added responsibility of taking care of another person.
As we age, our bodies cannot accommodate alcohol as easily as when we were younger. It takes less alcohol to make one intoxicated. Although some people find that alcohol gives temporary relief, it rarely takes care of problems and often adds new ones.
A direct approach would be to tell your father what you have noticed and ask if something is bothering him He may open up, and it may be easy to do some problem solving because he can feel your concern and support. He may find it useful to attend a support group for other people who are doing caregiving or find someone to help him care for your mother so he can get out to do something positive for himself.
If a direct approach to talking about his drinking doesn't work, a different way to help him could be to provide some educational materials on the misuse of alcohol that is written specifically for older adults. The reasons that older adults increase alcohol consumption are different than those for younger people; he may be able to understand and identify with situations of other older adults. Often, this information can be presented in a non-threatening educational manner by talking about physical changes and needs about food, stress, sleep, etc.
For more information, you may want to visit the learning lesson at:
http://www.extension.org/pages/Recognizing_Depression_in_an_Older_Adult
For more information, see these Web sites:
• Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
• Mental Health and Aging Network
