As you get older, you metabolize alcohol differently as when you’re younger. Alcohol also has different effects on your body as you age, especially if you have other health conditions or are taking medication.

For the elderly, too much alcohol can cause more health concerns and danger.

When you were younger, or when your parents were younger, you may drink occasionally as part of socializing and celebrating. As you age, you may not be able to drink as much. And this is for good reason.

As you age, your body becomes more prone to the negative effects of alcohol.

Let’s take a closer look at how dangerous alcohol is to elderly people and how bad it could be if they are addicted to alcohol.

Elderly Who Are Addicted to Alcohol

The effects of alcohol to you or your elderly parent is different. Here’s how:

• Your elderly parent will have less total body water content, so when they drink alcohol, their body will have a higher concentration so they will easily get intoxicated with lower amounts
• Aging causes their central nervous system to tolerate alcohol even less, so they will be more prone to accidents and injuries
• Alcohol in the elderly can also cause brain function impairment, which results to slower reflexes and uncoordinated movements. For the elderly, this is more dangerous because it can result to more bone fractures and serious injuries.
• The medication that your elderly parent takes can interact with alcohol, causing dangerous side effects
• Heavy and long-term drinking can cause their bones to be even more brittle
• They are also at a higher risk for developing heart diseases

If you think that your elderly parent may be struggling with a serious drinking problem, seek help from professionals, as alcohol withdrawal, especially for long-term drinkers, can be extremely dangerous.