When my mom lived with my sister's, one locked up the alcohol which made my mom want it more and the other sister let her have a beer in the evening. My mom gained 15 lbs living with the second sister.
She now lives with me and I let her have non-alcoholic beer and wine and she can't tell the difference. Plus it doesn't interfere with her medications.
How much alcohol are you talking about? A beer once in a while, a drink once in a while or a case a beer every day, a bottle of wine daily, or a bottle of whisky in a week? If it is an occasional drink I would not be concerned UNLESS it interferes with medication or makes the person violent or if it makes them unsafe in any way. If you are talking an alcoholic that is different. Difficult to get an alcoholic to stop drinking. You can try limiting and gradually cutting back on the alcohol consumed. It may be with the dementia that will help. But probably not. I have to ask...What would you be asking if he were not diagnosed with dementia? Al-anon meeting might help you. At least you would get some support from others going through the same process. (maybe not the dementia part of the equation though) At this point all you can do is keep him as safe as possible. And keep yourself safe. If he becomes violent call 911 If he falls, call 911 and ask for a Lift Assist do not try to pick him up yourself. In most cases if there is no transport to the hospital there is no charge for a Lift Assist.
I know of someone who upped their drinking in older age. Happened after TIAs - family noticed memory problems (prob vascular dementia but not actually dx).
Person became unruly & abnoxious, demanding his wife buy him a lot of alcohol - which she did to keep the peace. Falls became more frequent.
Other family stepped in to water down the whiskey & replace beer with non-alco beer to save wife from his behaviour. This sort of worked for a while... until he realised the dupe. Admitted he was depressed & this was how he wanted to cope with it but this behaviour was leaving his wife unsafe.
If the drinking is causing danger, making you or the patient unsafe, definately get help to change this.
Have you voiced your concerns with their doctor, assuming you are the POA? Never forcibly make someone go cold turkey without a plan made with a doctor. It could have drastic and dire consequences.
Alcohol Having a drink in company can be a pleasant way to relax. However, people with dementia can become more confused after a drink, so may need to limit the amount they have. Also, alcohol doesn't mix well with certain medicines. If in doubt, ask the GP for advice. People who have dementia related to past alcohol use should not drink alcohol.
If someone with dementia seems to be drinking too much because they've forgotten how much they've had, or if they are drinking inappropriately, you may choose to keep alcohol out of reach and out of sight. You might also decide to provide low alcohol or non-alcoholic substitutes, or watered down alcoholic drinks.
The only difficulty I can see would be if they were drinking to excess, I don't think there is any harm in having a few drinks as long as it is not contraindicated with their medications. And since they are hopefully not out buying their own you can be in charge of how much and how often alcohol is served.
She now lives with me and I let her have non-alcoholic beer and wine and she can't tell the difference. Plus it doesn't interfere with her medications.
A beer once in a while, a drink once in a while or a case a beer every day, a bottle of wine daily, or a bottle of whisky in a week?
If it is an occasional drink I would not be concerned UNLESS it interferes with medication or makes the person violent or if it makes them unsafe in any way.
If you are talking an alcoholic that is different.
Difficult to get an alcoholic to stop drinking.
You can try limiting and gradually cutting back on the alcohol consumed. It may be with the dementia that will help. But probably not.
I have to ask...What would you be asking if he were not diagnosed with dementia?
Al-anon meeting might help you. At least you would get some support from others going through the same process. (maybe not the dementia part of the equation though)
At this point all you can do is keep him as safe as possible.
And keep yourself safe.
If he becomes violent call 911
If he falls, call 911 and ask for a Lift Assist do not try to pick him up yourself. In most cases if there is no transport to the hospital there is no charge for a Lift Assist.
Person became unruly & abnoxious, demanding his wife buy him a lot of alcohol - which she did to keep the peace. Falls became more frequent.
Other family stepped in to water down the whiskey & replace beer with non-alco beer to save wife from his behaviour. This sort of worked for a while... until he realised the dupe. Admitted he was depressed & this was how he wanted to cope with it but this behaviour was leaving his wife unsafe.
If the drinking is causing danger, making you or the patient unsafe, definately get help to change this.
If there is an immediate danger, call 911.
Alcohol
Having a drink in company can be a pleasant way to relax. However, people with dementia can become more confused after a drink, so may need to limit the amount they have. Also, alcohol doesn't mix well with certain medicines. If in doubt, ask the GP for advice. People who have dementia related to past alcohol use should not drink alcohol.
If someone with dementia seems to be drinking too much because they've forgotten how much they've had, or if they are drinking inappropriately, you may choose to keep alcohol out of reach and out of sight. You might also decide to provide low alcohol or non-alcoholic substitutes, or watered down alcoholic drinks.
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/daily-living/smoking-and-alcohol-dementia