Caregivers Support Group
A voluntary caregiver is a spouse, relative, friend or neighbor of a disabled person or child who assists with activities of daily living and assists those unable to fully take care of themselves. The challenges of a caregiver are unique and sometimes it's hard to find people to talk to who know what you're going through. Join the conversation and find others who...
Hi All my fellow Caregivers!
I am a caregiver to my husband and one of my good friends is a caregiver to her dad who lives with her. Her and I took our usual Sunday morning "therapy" walk and she was having a really hard time today. Her dad has a lot of pain and has been prescribed pain medication. The doctor has warned her dad about mixing alcohol and pain medication but he still wants 3-4 drinks per day (he's 85). My friend has done her best to explain to her dad that he should not be drinking this much, but he continually bothers her to make him a drink or have one when they are out at a restaurant. He for the most part always asks her if he can have a drink - he does not usually make his own. Sometimes he does. When she says, "No, dad, you have already had two today, and you know that you cannot have more, etc." He gets upset at her and now she is just ready to throw in the towel and say "Fine, if you want to drink, go ahead and make them." After two drinks, he starts to really feel the drink, and then he also has times where he starts to not feel good or nauseous from the drinking. Any suggestions from anyone who has gone thru with an aging parent who wants to continue to drink despite your best efforts to control it?
I am a caregiver to my husband and one of my good friends is a caregiver to her dad who lives with her. Her and I took our usual Sunday morning "therapy" walk and she was having a really hard time today. Her dad has a lot of pain and has been prescribed pain medication. The doctor has warned her dad about mixing alcohol and pain medication but he still wants 3-4 drinks per day (he's 85). My friend has done her best to explain to her dad that he should not be drinking this much, but he continually bothers her to make him a drink or have one when they are out at a restaurant. He for the most part always asks her if he can have a drink - he does not usually make his own. Sometimes he does. When she says, "No, dad, you have already had two today, and you know that you cannot have more, etc." He gets upset at her and now she is just ready to throw in the towel and say "Fine, if you want to drink, go ahead and make them." After two drinks, he starts to really feel the drink, and then he also has times where he starts to not feel good or nauseous from the drinking. Any suggestions from anyone who has gone thru with an aging parent who wants to continue to drink despite your best efforts to control it?
I do have one idea tho, I always thought that if I could make the drinks I would "cut" them with water so they were not as strong. You would have to do it gradually so they couldn't tell the difference. I never had the chance to do this for my aging relative because she died suddenly.
I wish your friend Good Luck !
Hugs, Phoebe
Deena
Addiction in elderly is common overlooked problem. I was an in home CNA homecare aide for years and worked with several who had a daily routine of drinking. Interesting the family did not recognize the cause and effect of drinking and the interactions of meds and side effects and why their parent was going downhill and having a lot of problems.contact doctor because this will affect his liver aka the cause of his nausea. then there is liver failure. It could be damaging other organs also. If you have a good doctor he will respond accordingly
It affects balance, appetite, blood sugar, mood, sleep, elimination, urinary infections healing of the skin the list goes on and on.. The most common problem was many of these people fell and broke something or had head injuries.
He is probably addicted to alcohol and will increase amount and consumption as most drinkers do, don't expect him to stop. Al-anon is somewhat helpful when dealing with someone who will not stop drinking because I found there is a cycle of trying to control the drinker, the drinking and sometime an unhealthy co dependence.