Alcoholism in the Aged by

increasing longevity of our popula-tion pose serious sociomedical prob-lems. Those problems are on the increase in all industrialised coun-tries. Much attention has been focus-ed on excessive drinking by younger people,1-2-3 but little comment has been made on alcohol abuse by the aged.4 Over a period of 6 months (June-December 1975) nine patients over the age of 70 were admitted to hospital because of problem drink-ing. Below are brief accounts of events leading to admission. Case Histories 1. Widow, aged 72, living alone. Depressed three years following the death of her husband and had been drinking excessively for the same period—at least one half bottle of whisky a day plus one or two pints of beer. She had loss of memory, causing her to misplace things at home. At times she wandered from her home and had to be taken home by neighbours or the police. Diagnosis: Korsakow's Psychosis. 2. Widow, aged 77. living with un-married daughter and young granddaughter. Husband drank heavily and died in 1941. Patient admitted to drinking half a bottle of whisky a day, but her daughter reported that she sometimes drank three bottles of wine as well. Excessive drinking caused her to be abusive and physically aggres-sive; frequently she was doubly incontinent and soiled her bed. There was no evidence of gross intellectual deterioration. 3. Widow, aged 75, living alone and unable to care for herself. Hus-band died in 1967. Excessive drinking dated from his death. Referred because she was unable to look after herself and kept wandering from the house. Deluded that she was being per-secuted by a boy in the road. Also subject to auditory hallucinations in a setting of clear consciousness. Poor memory for recent events with confabulation. Diagnosis: Korsakow's Psychosis. 4. Widow, aged 70. Husband died 27 years ago. Had been drinking a bottle of sherry a day plus wine and unable to control her intake. Had frequent visits to Casualty Departments in a state of intoxica-tion. Sometimes found wandering in the street and returned home dishevelled and scratched. Exces-sive drinking started about 3 years before admission. No evid-ence of gross intellectual disorder