Hi Christine,

This is really interesting to me. I've written several articles on elders and alcohol so I get e-mails from people who say "no one will talk about this." Doctors often fail to recognize alcoholism in elders, especially the "little grandmother" who comes in with vague complaints. If the doctors do ask about alcohol consumption, of course they are told that the person has a glass of wine at dinner, or some such nonsense, and the doctor believes it, or else doesn't know where to go from there (it is hard to know).

Until society understands alcoholism as a disease and not a moral failing, we'll have a hard time getting elders to ask for help with their drinking problem, which often gets worse after the death of a spouse.

Your article is very well done. It's helpful to have the different steps so clearly presented.

Carol