Q My 67-year-old father has an ongoing alcohol problem for as long as I can remember which has only become worse since my mom died last year. He's never drunk, just kind of buzzed. I took him to the doctor's for his annual physical last week and she warned him that his liver was in serious trouble. At this stage, what can I do to help him?
Firstly, please accept my condolences on the death of your mom. No wonder dad drinks. However; drinking can prevent heart disease so drinking can be good for you. Here are a few tips that have worked for me.
Liver cells metabolize a certain amount of alcohol per hour. So, if your dad is drinking alcohol faster than his liver can deal with it, the level of alcohol in his bloodstream shoots up too quickly. Tell your dad to slow down. Stretch the happy hour to happy hours. Secondly, no one should ever drink alone. Spend some quality time with your dad and put back a few with him. Incorporate this with some trivia games dealing mainly with health issues preferably with vivid photos like someone in the last stages of cirrhosis. Watch some movies. One movie that snapped me back into reality was “The Days of Wine and Roses.” Better yet, rent “Leaving Las Vegas” or who can resist Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep in “Barfly.”
Dad doesn’t need a drink to get a buzz. There are plenty of anti-depressant medications on the market today that can lift dad’s spirit and without the damaging effects of alcohol.
If none of this helps, explain to dad how hideous his appearance will become once he develops liver spots and spider veins. Not to mention the empty calories that will add pounds to his waistline.
Hope this helps!
Liver cells metabolize a certain amount of alcohol per hour. So, if your dad is drinking alcohol faster than his liver can deal with it, the level of alcohol in his bloodstream shoots up too quickly. Tell your dad to slow down. Stretch the happy hour to happy hours. Secondly, no one should ever drink alone. Spend some quality time with your dad and put back a few with him. Incorporate this with some trivia games dealing mainly with health issues preferably with vivid photos like someone in the last stages of cirrhosis. Watch some movies. One movie that snapped me back into reality was “The Days of Wine and Roses.” Better yet, rent “Leaving Las Vegas” or who can resist Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep in “Barfly.”
Dad doesn’t need a drink to get a buzz. There are plenty of anti-depressant medications on the market today that can lift dad’s spirit and without the damaging effects of alcohol.
If none of this helps, explain to dad how hideous his appearance will become once he develops liver spots and spider veins. Not to mention the empty calories that will add pounds to his waistline.
Hope this helps!
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