Aging often brings signs of decline. Many symptoms of problem drinking in older adults can be mistaken for normal aging. Lack of interest in activities that once brought pleasure, withdrawal, sleep problems, lack of memory, feelings of depression, anxiety, or even physical pain are among these patterns [3]. Also, many of the traditional warning signs for problem drinking in older adults do not apply. Some of them are retired, so they don’t have to show up to work. They may live alone, so no one will see the extent of their drinking [5].
This guide is to help adult children recognize the signs and symptoms of problem drinking in their parents and intervene before things get worse.
Why Alcohol Hits Harder After 60
As we age, our bodies change in many ways, including how we process alcohol. Seniors have less lean muscle mass and less total body water than younger adults, causing alcohol to become more concentrated in the blood as it travels through the body’s water. The brain also becomes more sensitive to the effects of alcohol with age, causing an individual’s tolerance to decrease significantly [3].
Older people who have been drinking for many years can develop serious problems even if they continue to drink in the same amounts [3]. Alcohol has a sedating effect on older people, making them very sleepy and slow. It also affects their balance, coordination, and ability to focus. As a result, falls, car accidents, and other injuries and problems occur frequently among older people who drink excessively [1].
In fact, 78% of U.S. older adults who drink also take medications that interact with alcohol [3]. These interactions can increase the risk of falls, injuries, overdose, and memory problems. They can also decrease the effectiveness of certain medicines, including blood pressure medicines and antibiotics [1].
Problem drinking in this age group is not uncommon. In 2024, 2.9 million adults 65 and older in the U.S. were estimated to have had alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the past year. That translates to 4.8% of all adults 65 and older in the U.S. Even more disturbing is that adults 65 and older represent 40.9% of all deaths attributed to alcohol in the U.S. for the time period 2022–2023 [2]. Read more about how aging affects our tolerance to alcohol.
There are many older people today who only begin drinking heavily in their later years. Often their problem drinking develops as a result of significant life changes, such as the loss of a partner, retirement, feelings of isolation, chronic pain, or other medical problems [3].
Because an older person with AUD may not have had any issues with alcohol in their earlier life, family members and children often have difficulty realizing there is a problem with alcohol.
10 Signs Your Parent Is Drinking Too Much
Just because one of the following signs is present in your parent does not necessarily mean that he or she has a drinking problem. However, the presence of several new signs over time could indicate a problem:
Falls and unexplained bruises. One fall can result in an older person’s broken hip and a long hospital stay [1]. More on how falls could be a sign of an older addict.
New memory problems or confusion. This can manifest itself in your mom or dad repeatedly asking the same question, forgetting appointments or events and generally seeming a bit “off” or “foggy.” While many attribute these types of changes to normal aging or even to dementia, the reality is that heavy, long-term drinking can cause similar symptoms [3] and lead to alcohol-related dementia.
Isolation. Does your parent avoid going to places they used to enjoy? Do they no longer attend church, go out with friends, or participate in hobbies? Is there a withdrawal from family and friends?
Drinking to sleep, lower mood, poor appetite. As people get older, their ability to sleep after a few drinks decreases. Alcohol can also cause the senior to become depressed or even worsen the senior’s current state of depression later in life. In some cases, people use alcohol instead of eating meals [1][3].
Neglecting one’s self-care. Are there signs that your mom or dad are letting their personal hygiene go downhill? Is the house a mess? Are bills being left unpaid? [1].
Using alcohol while taking other medicines. Your parent may be mixing alcohol with prescription medicines such as sleep aids, pain medications, antidepressants, and over-the-counter cold and flu medicines. Mixing alcohol with these medicines can cause serious health problems, including high blood pressure and heart issues [1][3].
Hiding or covering up drinking behavior. Watch for empty bottles in the trash, bottles in unusual places around the house, drinking alone, and becoming defensive when the subject of drinking is brought up.
Using alcohol to deal with feelings of grief, loneliness, pain, or boredom. The older adult with late-onset AUD may be using alcohol to try to treat their chronic pain or to try to alleviate their anxiety [3].
Bringing Up Drinking With Your Mom or Dad
A calm, loving discussion of an older parent’s drinking with appropriate concern is better than waiting until there is a greater crisis.
- Approach the conversation about alcohol use when your parent is not under the influence. Avoid holidays and family events, when alcohol is often part of the occasion and other concerns are brewing.
- It is essential to express the love and concern that you have for your mom or dad. Express your affection and state the reason for your worry calmly. E.g., “I have been worried about you since your fall.”
- Specify the instances when you have observed your parent’s behavior to describe how you see things instead of labeling them. For example, “You seemed confused last week when we talked,” instead of saying “You drink too much.” Clinicians use this kind of specific, nonjudgmental feedback when working with older adults [3].
- Respect their decisions and offer choices for action, such as having their doctor review their medicines or having a talk with a counselor, and let them choose the first step [3].
- Bring in their doctor. Your parents likely trust their doctor more than almost anyone, and if you bring up your concerns about their drinking with the doctor, they can talk to your parents about it [1].
Do not make your mom or dad quit cold turkey. Withdrawal can be dangerous for people who drink heavily every day. If you need support communicating with your parent, see our tips on how to speak with an older adult about their addiction.
Alcohol Withdrawal Risks in Older Adults
Withdrawal from alcohol occurs when the body of a person who has become dependent on alcohol no longer has access to it. In the older adult, it can last longer and occur later, a week or more after the last drink. The symptoms may include feeling irritable, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, feeling on edge or anxious, nausea or vomiting, and shaking [3].
Older adults also carry a greater risk of delirium during alcohol withdrawal. Delirium is a sudden state of confusion, often mistaken for early stages of dementia [3]. In general, individuals over the age of 65 with other medical problems, and especially those with increasing cognitive problems, may present more complications from unassisted withdrawal [5].
For these reasons, the SAMHSA expert panel recommends that older adults go through medically supervised withdrawal in an inpatient medical setting, with medical staff monitoring around the clock to treat the various complications that can arise [3].
Common Questions About Alcohol and the Elderly
How Do I Know if My Elderly Parent Is an Alcoholic?
A doctor is the only one who can officially diagnose your parent with alcohol use disorder (AUD). You can look for signs of problems with alcohol use, such as your parent drinking more than he or she meant to, an inability to cut down or control drinking, and a variety of alcohol-related health, family, or social problems. A doctor can give your parent a screening questionnaire designed for older adults, such as the Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test-Geriatric Version (SMAST-G) [3].
Is Drinking More Dangerous After 65?
Yes. For most people over age 65, the body processes a given amount of alcohol to reach higher blood alcohol levels than a younger person. They are also more likely to be on various medications and have underlying medical problems that can worsen with alcohol use [3]. People who are unable to control the amount that they drink should not consume any alcohol [4].
How Do I Talk to My Mom or Dad About Their Drinking?
Approach the conversation with your parent in a loving way. Mention some things you have observed about their behavior or health problems. Express your concern for their health and independence. Be sure to listen carefully to what they have to say and offer to accompany them to a medical consultation. Be patient. It can take more than one conversation.
Is an 80-Year-Old Too Old for Alcohol Treatment?
No. Many families of an 80-year-old alcoholic parent worry that it is too late to get help. Older adults are generally open to and accepting of alcohol treatment, especially when such treatment is tailored to their age [3].
What Matters Most
- Even though many age-related problems such as falls, memory loss, and feeling isolated may be attributed to growing older, many of these problems can be caused by an older person’s drinking.
- As people get older, their bodies process the same amount of alcohol less effectively. A person over 60 may also experience serious side effects when mixing certain medications and alcohol.
- Have an open talk with your older parent about what you have observed. Keep it calm, avoid references to “alcoholism” and try to frame the discussion around their health and independence.
- An older individual who has been drinking heavily on a daily basis for long periods of time should not attempt to quit “cold turkey,” as they may experience severe withdrawal symptoms that could be life-threatening.
Get Help for Your Parent at Hanley Center
Founded in 1998, the Center for Older Adult Recovery at Hanley Center offers a senior-focused approach to addiction treatment. The program provides comprehensive recovery services for men and women 60 years of age and older at our West Palm Beach campus.
The program is located next to St. Mary’s Medical Center, which offers critical care, cardiology, and physical therapy, so patients have quick access to emergency and specialty care if a medical need arises during treatment. Our doctors and nurses also help manage medical concerns that can complicate recovery in older adults, including chronic pain.
Medically supervised detoxification that addresses the medical concerns unique to an older adult’s age is the first step in Hanley Center’s program. The program also offers chronic pain management as well as group counseling with others of similar age.
Family is important to include in recovery as well. Our Family Program is designed to help families of recovering individuals gain insight into the addiction of a loved one and ways to best support them in their recovery. Learn more about our recovery program for older adults. Call our admissions office today at (561) 841-1033.
Sources
[1] National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. 2025, Dec. Aging and Alcohol. NIAAA, Alcohol’s Effects on Health.
[2] National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. 2025, Aug. Alcohol and Older Adults Ages 65+. NIAAA, Alcohol Facts and Statistics.
[3] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2020. Chapter 4: Treating Alcohol Misuse in Older Adults. Treating Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults, Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 26. SAMHSA.
[4] Koob, G. F. 2022, Oct. 13. A Growing Concern: Increased Drinking Among Older Adults. NIAAA Director’s Blog.
[5] Mulkey, M. A., and Olson, D. M. 2020, Dec. Delirium Tremens in the Older Adult. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 52(6), 316-321.
