Alcohol abuse in older persons: implications for critical care

Alcoholism in the older population is a significant, yet often hidden or unrecognized problem. With the growing older population, a concurrent increase in the number of geriatric patients admitted to critical care settings will occur. An understanding of alcoholism in older persons, coupled with an early recognition of the problem by the critical care nurse, is vital in minimizing the consequences of alcoholism and withdrawal during critical illness. Prompt and appropriate treatment of manifestations of withdrawal is necessary to improve patient outcomes for the elderly individual suffering from alcohol abuse.