Alcohol and the elderly

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

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 😊

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.

Love it stanlaw

It's her life.

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!

BOTTOMS UP!!!

Stanlaw 😁

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

Life’s too short and if she’s made it to 90 having a glass of wine and or another little tipple is likely to improve her quality of life, good on her 👍🏻

My elderly mother almost 104 in a care home and she enjoys a small sherry. I think it’s that which keeps her going!

Just as a matter of interest how would you all react if OP said an elderly person was smoking cannabis every evening?

I used to do homecare for a lady bedridden with MS.
Cannabis certainly helped her symptoms.

Have you got two lives, or even nine, unlike this person? Has she appointed you judge and /or jury?

In a care home what someone drinks will be measured.
In someone's own home, not so likely.

It is entirely their own choice, but it makes things more risky if they're a bit pissed.

My mother used to have a sherry in the late afternoon and occastionally a wine with her dinner - I certainly wouldn't have described her as a heavy drinker, nor have tried to dissuade her!
Another elderly gent that we knew said he was a lifelong tea-totaller, but that he had a brandy in warm milk before he went to bed. He lived soberly until he was nearly 90!

I have loved all the responses to this post!
Some have made me laugh out loud so I need to be careful not to choke on my glass of wine.

Not really very shocking! They over 50’s are the highest consumers of alcoholic drinks according to research, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise. ‘Very elderly’ or not, many people enjoy a glass of wine with their evening meal and perhaps a little ‘nightcap’! As long as any meds she takes are ok, she’ll be fine. It’s her decision to make, after all as I presume there’s no dementia involved. I hope she enjoys her little treats! I speak as one who often misses them as I find that alcohol severely interacts with meds I take for my gastric problems, so can no longer tolerate it.