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My aunts an alcoholic. Shes been drinking since she was a teen, now shes 68. Shes had trouble walking for the past couple years she said. It got really bad a little over a month ago. My mom and I took her to the hospital, and they determined her walking issues are caused by chronic alcohol use. So she hasnt drank for a month. Shes doing physical therapy, and is doing very well, so we'll they are going to drop her from physical therapy. Well, about a week ago, I noticed her speech is very slurred. Shes stumbling also. Shes like that all day eccept for in the morning. This morning I aksed her if she was drinking. She said no, and that its probably her medication. Im positive shes been drinking, and shes trying to hide it from me. My question is, I am going to start working soon, and im sure she'll be drunk while im not home. If she falls, and hurts herself, could I get in trouble, even though she brought it on herself?

You really need to find a better living situation. Life with any version of an alcohol addict is awful. You won’t want to have your friends visit, and when she’s lying around in a cast because she broke bones in an alcoholic splat on the floor, you’ll be taking care of her and enabling her booze habit.

Get out while you can. Surely you can share an apartment with a co-worker or rent a room on your own. Trust me, your life will be much happier without the pall of booze breath greeting you every time you walk in the door.
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Nicholas1302 Oct 14, 2025
My mom told me I could move into her house. Just don't know what my aunt would do then.
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You’re kind to care, I’m afraid this is past your capacity to fix, or really even help. It’s very sad what a longtime alcoholic can and will do, and the torment that happens to those who care for them. And no, I don’t see this being your responsibility
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SnoopyLove Oct 15, 2025
Totally agree that Nicholas is obviously a very kind and caring soul. What he doesn’t need is the self-imposed problems of adults in his life (which he can’t fix, even if he wanted to) dragging him down.

Nicholas, hope you can find a way forward to the future you deserve!
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Did you smell booze on her breath? Have you searched the house for her supply? Who would be buying it for her (please tell me she isn't driving if you suspect she is drinking again)?

Or

She could have had a stroke (slurred speech, stumbling).

Yes, it can be her medication... what is she on? Who is dispensing it to her daily? If she has any memory issues she could be taking it incorrectly.

She could now have Wernicke-Korsakoff dementia, due to a chronic vitamin deficiency caused by long-term alcoholism. If caught early enough it can be treated, but in some cases it cannot.

She can have other medical issues that are causing her problem, but first you need to figure out if she truly is still drinking. If she is, then this is not your problem and you are not resonsible to take care of her, for any reason.
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Nicholas1302 Oct 14, 2025
I haven't smelled it on her breath. Before she quit for a month, I found a bottle of vodka under her bed sheet so she was hiding it from me at one point. I havnt searched her room or anything. I doubt she had a stroke because she is completely normal in the morning. I know one of the meds she takes is oxycodon (or however you spell it) her doctor prescribs her meds to her. She has memory issues. She'll ask me the same question several times a day. Im just gonna suggest she goes to her doctor. Idk what else I would do.
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No, you are not responsible for anyone else's drinking; you wouldn't be "in trouble". However, do let me tell you this. It is crucial that when your aunt goes to the hospital for ANY reason, that you inform ER of her history of alcohol use. The reason for this is that the electrolyte balance of alcoholics changes over time and they are often CHRONICALLY low in sodium and other electrolytes. If the hospital is unaware of the alcoholism any low measure of sodium (which can be deadly) would be replaced to levels of normal person and delivered IV at normal rate of delivery. This can in RARE cases cause a reaction in the alcoholic with a idiopathic chronically low sodium that destroys the myelin shealth on nerve endings. The LASTING result would be a severe MS-like condition called central pontine myelinolysis that leads to lifelong poor gate, slurred speech, loss of fine motor control, and at worst a "locked-in syndrome".
Never hide alcoholism from medical personnel. It is a disease they need to be aware of.

Best of luck. Attend Al-Anon meetings given by AA which are everywhere in the USA. You will get knowledge and support and a great community of help.
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Nicholas, you tell her the arrangement is not working and she needs to move out. Then you make her an appt with Social Services to evaluate her situation. You go with her and explain her staying with you was a temporary fix that you are not going to be held responaible for her because she continues to fall. She needs housing now.
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No.
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I'd check out an AlAnon meeting for you.

Your Aunt may have Wernickes Korsakoffs.

I'd move out. Sometimes you have to back way off when alcoholics are involved and take care of yourself.

It sounds like Aunt is close to not being able to live in the house on her own.
If she does fall I'd call 911 again and let professionals deal with her. If she is an alcoholic I don't understand why you would be in trouble.

Dad passed out drunk in the country club parking lot at noon. He was taken by ambulance to the ER. He called a caregiver to come take him home. When he got home he resumed drinking. Believe me I backed way off after this situation.
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Nicholas why in the world would you choose to live with your alcoholic aunt? She is not nor ever has been your responsibility.
You need to leave sooner than later and get out on your own not with your mom and call Adult Protective Services on your way out the door reporting your alcoholic aunt living by herself. They will come out and do an assessment and if need be take over her care.
And then start going to Al-Anon meetings so you can better understand this horrific disease of alcoholism.
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https://www.agingcare.com/questions/can-i-get-in-legal-trouble-if-my-moms-friend-falls-496421.htm

You asked a similar question on Sept 11 and then it was a friend of your Moms.

This woman may have had a stroke. She needs to see a doctor for testing. You need to get her out of your house. Why does Mom not take her in.
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It's your house. The going rate for renting a room in a house is between $1,000.00 to $1200.00 in some areas in the DMV area.

Join Al-Anon. There are plenty of Zoom, telephone meetings and in person meetings.

No, you will not get in trouble if your aunt drinks and falls down. It may be the wake-up call that she needs to get her act together. However, I doubt it. Your aunt is an alcoholic. Her desire to drink is stronger than the desire to stop drinking and take care of her health. Only she can control that aspect of her recovery.
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