Addiction to Alcohol/alcoholic employer

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Expert: - 5/21/2009


Question
Hi, I worked in a household as a caregiver for two elderly individuals wife and husband. They been married for almost a half century and the wife has had an addition with alcohol for a long time but now she is out of control and can not funtion as a normal person when she drinks. As a reason the State has come in to take over their lives and this has brought the biggest stress to both. I want to be able to work and help both in each particular need but I do not know how to best safeguard the husband, when the wife gets drunk. I also want to help the wife to get treament for this desease. I lived 24 hors  with this couple, and i like my worked  which is to provided care.

Answer
Hi Maria,

I'm sure that this is very difficult for you to watch but as you said, she does not function as a normal person when she drinks.

Because your employer is an alcoholic, she's a threat to herself and others (her husband) so the state has to step in. Of course this will cause the couple stress because they don't want to leave each other - and it's very sad to watch.

Alcohol affects the elderly differently, due to their metabolism, medication etc. Here's more information on that:

http://www.untwist-your-thinking.com/aging-process.html

Don't worry about her getting treatment in a rehab. When she's placed in chronic care, there won't be access to alcohol. Her medication will me monitored and her physical needs will be attended to.

I'm sure there are social workers now, and they will encourage the husband to visit and be part of the transition.

The best way to help at this point is to tell them that you'll make things as easy for them as you can - that you'll make sure that the husband visits as much as he likes, that you'll make her the food she likes etc and she'll be well cared for.

If the husband is functioning and you're there to care for him, the state will most likely, not get further involved.

Hope this information is helpful,

Thank you for asking All Experts

All the best

Beverley Glazer MA
http://www.untwist-your-thinking.com  

Addiction to Alcohol

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Beverley Glazer

Expertise

I can answer questions on all addictive behaviors: alcohol, drugs, food, compulsive sex, codependency, gambling, compulsive shoplifting etc.

Experience

I have over 20 years experience working in the addiction field. My experience extends to all levels of substance abuse. I've worked in rehabs and detox centers, prisons and half-way houses and have a busy private practice as well as an active website where I can be reached for recovery coaching and consultation. I am a cognitive behavioral therapist, but 12-step programs are an excellent support. When working in the addiction field, there is no cookie-cutter solution. In the recovery field, you witness miracles. That's why I love what I do.

Organizations
NAADAC The Association for Addiction Professionals, CACCF Canadian Addiction Counselors Federation, CCA Canadian Counseling Association, For more information please see: http://www.untwist-your-thinking.com

Education/Credentials
BA Psychology, MA Counseling Psychology, ICADC International Alcohol and Drug Counselor, ICAC International Clinical Addiction Counselor, CGC Certified Gambling Counselor.

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