Alcohol and the elderly

Kate1949

If the OP said the person was smoking cannabis, drinking vodka, pole dancing naked, I'd say it was none of her business.

Agreed. Live and let live.

If the OP said the person was smoking cannabis, drinking vodka, pole dancing naked, I'd say it was none of her business.

Absolutely. My daughter is in a very stressful job in the NHS & I’m surprised she has not taken sick leave as she is responsible for so much. However, any excuse for a glass of wine or a gin and she’s there. She knows what she’s doing, no different to my smoking, back in the day, when I got stressed. We do what gets us through.

My Dad was an inpatient in the cancer ward of an nhs hospital. Twice a day the drugs trolley would come round, accompanied by the drinks trolley. “What would you like John?” Someone had left a legacy to provide every patient with something to look forward to!

My mum in law has type diabetes and her health is terrible because she eats anything she wants to, knowing the consequences of this. She's in her late 80's. I think she wants to enjoy all food and sod the diabetes. She neLy died 4 years ago but pulled through.

She complained about her non-healing painful ulcers a few weeks ago and her daughter told her that she (mum) has 2 choices. To eat a diabetc-sensible diet or eat sweets cakes and live with the consequences (but don't complain either!). She's been hospitalised again. But her enjoyment of all the wrong food still prevails. She is hellbent on living her life the way she wants to and we can't say anything.

Sadly it is putting a lot of pressure on her daughter for hospital and doctors appointments at the same time as holding down a full time job. (She doesn't live in the UK so no appointment transport services.

Callistemon21

eddiecat78

Just as a matter of interest how would you all react if OP said an elderly person was smoking cannabis every evening? Some people would argue that alcohol is just as serious a drug

Well, if it was helping her arthritis then I wouldn't condemn her.

Cannabis is a Class C drug. I don't agree with taking drugs, never have but it is not Class A or B.

And as long as she doesn't go racing round the streets in her sports car after smoking a joint.

first thing, it has nothing to do with you, my late partner was told by his doctor to have one small whisky each night before bed, he did not as could not be bothered, my mum buys the mini bottles of wine and sometimes has a glass with her evening meal, she also has a glass of whisky on a saturday night, it has nothing to do with me as she is 79 and makes her own choices. maybe you should just mind your own business.

eddiecat78

Just as a matter of interest how would you all react if OP said an elderly person was smoking cannabis every evening? Some people would argue that alcohol is just as serious a drug

Well, if it was helping her arthritis then I wouldn't condemn her.

Just as a matter of interest how would you all react if OP said an elderly person was smoking cannabis every evening? Some people would argue that alcohol is just as serious a drug

Stanlaw 😁

BOTTOMS UP!!!

Another example of interfering with how other people live their lives. The relative won't live any longer if they give up their wine with dinner - it'll just feel like it for them. Bottoms up!

It's her life.

Love it stanlaw

My mother's favourite cake recipe
1 cup sugar,
1 tsp. baking powder,
1 cup water,
1 tsp. salt,
1 cup brown sugar,
Lemon juice,
4 large eggs,
Nuts,
1 bottle Vodka,
2 cups dried fruit.


Sample a cup of Vodka to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the Vodka again to be sure it is of the highest quality then Repeat.
Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point, it is best to make sure the Vodka is still OK. Try another cup just in case. Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 eegs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the fruit up off the floor, wash it and put it in the bowl a piece at a time trying to count it. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit getas stuck in the beaterers, just pry it loose with a drewscriver Sample the Vodka to test for tonsisticity. Next, sift 2 cups of salt, or something. Check the Vodka. Now ###### shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window. Finish the Vodka and wipe the counter with the cat.

My dad drinks a bottle of wine per week. Usually a glass each evening with dinner. He's 86 and while very active, does have some health issues, such as recurring gout. However he says he's had a good life and he's determined to go on enjoying it to the end 😊

🥂cheers to her. Being ‘elderly’ does not mean giving up all pleasure!

You need to get out more.

I do think as a society we are too accepting of alcohol. Particularly women.
It doesn't do the brain any good.
Yes if you've arrived at 90 and still enjoy a glass, fine.
But I am shocked at how large the glasses of wine are that my DD drinks.
I have a friend who complains about her memory but still drinks a couple of glasses most evenings.
But we all need some pleasure in life don't we.

Primrose53 I haven't read that book as I can't stand Richard Osman! He always seems so pleased with himself.
The care home I was talking about is really lovely. I'd put my name down for it now but its very expensive

Aveline

There's a Thursday afternoon ladies prosecco group at our nearby care home. For the men there's a beer and bacon rolls group. It's a very nice place with happy residents and an imaginative activities team.

Have you read The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman? It’s set in an upmarket residential complex that sounds like the one you mention.

Just loving all the light-hearted and humerous responses to the thread. Thank-you all.

Alcohol does affect me more than it did when I was younger. If I drink two large glasses of wine I tend to get a headache, and so I tend to limit myself to one large glass or two smaller ones. Prosecco doesn’t appear to have that effect, and I often share a bottle with my DiL at weekends.
That’s just me though, and I think everyone should do whatever makes them happy.

I stopped for five years and felt no difference.

It may be a wind-up, although I doubt it, but we aren't wound up about it. We all think the OP is worried unduly, while we relax with a glass in our hand, wheher our own preferences is a nice glass of wine or an elderflower presse.

I am curious, *halfpint18 how much you have to drink to notice the effect when you stop. I go weeks at a time without having an alcoholic drink and then have one drink a day for a week and I really feel absolutely no different, before, after or during that week.

I did know someone once who gave it up and noticed the difference but he was drinking one or more bottles of wine a day, which is hardly normal.