My dad is an alcoholic. Very worried and looking for advice

[Ficidy]

My father (73) is an alcoholic. He always took a drink, but he was able to control it until a few years ago. My parents lost their house and basically all their money. They are in a very precarious situation financially and to numb the pain, my dad drinks - sometimes all day every day. He has had a lot of falls, but luckily escaped major injury- so far. I am worried that he is going to end up killing himself.

My parents are soulmates. They never argued while we were growing up and we had a very happy childhood. But now, my mother (even though she says she still loves him) wants to leave my dad. I don't think she will though. I am at a total loss. I don't know what to do to help.

Has anyone else been in this situation and could you offer any advice? Thank you.

I'm very sorry for the situation you're in. Can anybody speak to your dad about it or is it something he won't acknowledge? If he is open to getting help, his GP would be a good place to start as they can refer him to appropriate places or work on a plan with him.

You have my sympathies. DF is the same. Lives alone and drinking so much more during the pandemic, it has affected his physical and mental health very quickly. He now has referral to the memory team he is so bad. Cannot remember falling and being at the Drs surgery for the nurse to steri strip a gash just a few hours after being there. He is no longer taking care of himself and hardly eats, looks unkempt and the alcohol has now cause Atrial Fibrillation. He’s had several turns and ended up with an ambulance taking him to hospital, resulting in overnight stays in hospital, 3 times in the last 6 months.

DBro lives just a few miles from him, I’m 70+ miles away. We have pleaded with him to reduce drinking, accept someone coming in to care but he won’t cut down and refuses all help. It’s heartbreaking having someone you love being an alcoholic.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. My step dad is like that too, he is the same age as your dad. He refuses any help and has other health problems that he is refusing to see a doctor about. Thanks to covid I can't even go and visit so I can't evaluate how bad the situation has got.
It's so energy consuming and worrying, the worry is with me all the time and is impacting my life every day.
I can only offer my sympathies, I know what it's like- you're not alone!

To be honest, unless he thinks there is a problem, then he will do nothing to resolve this situation. It is hard to break the cycle even when you want to. I'd wonder if your mum leaving might not be the only thing that might force him to face up to the reality of what is happening?