Parish Nurses

PARISH NURSE MINISTRY

Parish Nursing is a specialty area of professional nursing that integrates nursing and ministry within a faith community. The focus of the Parish Nurse Ministry is to function as a healing and teaching ministry by following Christ’s example and seeking to care for the body, mind, and soul. This is accomplished by intentionally caring for the human spirit through health and wellness promotion, prayer, and emotional and spiritual presence within a parish community. The Parish Nurse ministry does not provide direct hands-on nursing care but rather works to empower parishioners to attain physical, spiritual, and emotional wellness.

The Parish Nurse Ministry would like to thank all those that participated in the 2024 Annual Health Fair and made it a success.

We would like to invite all to visit our NEW Resource page on the parish website, Parish Nurses | Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish - Marmora, NJ (saintmaxkolbe.com). We will be posting ongoing health and wellness articles and helpful hints on a variety of medical issues throughout the year.

Topics of Interest:

The Effects of Alcohol Change As We Age

Many people enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two on occasion with friends or family, but alcohol can be addictive. As we age, alcohol consumption can also make existing health problems worse and have dangerous interactions with some medications. Anyone at any age can develop an unhealthy reliance on alcohol.

Sometimes, families, friends, and health care workers may overlook the concerns about older people drinking. This can be the case because the side effects of drinking in older adults are mistaken for other conditions related to aging, for example, a problem with balance. But how the body handles alcohol changes with age.

As you grow older, health problems or prescribed medicines may require that you drink less alcohol or avoid it completely. You may also notice that your body’s reaction to alcohol is different than before. Some people feel the effects of alcohol more strongly without increasing the amount they drink. This can make them more likely to have accidents such as falls, fractures, and car crashes. Also, older women are more sensitive than men to the effects of alcohol.

Other people develop a harmful reliance on alcohol later in life. Sometimes this is a result of major life changes, such as the death of a spouse or other loved one, moving to a new home, or failing health. These kinds of changes can cause loneliness, boredom, anxiety, or depression. In fact, depression in older adults often aligns with drinking too much.

People who drink daily do not necessarily have alcohol use disorder. And not all who misuse alcohol or have alcohol use disorder drink every day. But heavy drinking, even occasionally, can have harmful effects.

Drinking too much at one time or on any given day, or having too many drinks over the course of a week, increases the risk of harmful consequences, including injuries and health problems. People who consistently misuse alcohol over time are also at greater risk of developing alcohol use disorder.

Drinking too much alcohol over a long time can:

Lead to some kinds of cancer, liver damage, immune system disorders, and brain damage.
Worsen some health conditions such as osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, ulcers, memory loss, and mood disorders.
Make some medical conditions hard for doctors to accurately diagnose and treat. For example, alcohol causes changes in the heart and blood vessels. These changes can dull pain that might be a warning sign of a heart attack.
Cause some older people to be forgetful and confused - symptoms that could be mistaken for signs of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.

Adapted from the National Institute on Aging – www.nia.nih.gov

And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit… Ephesians 5:18

Nursing Ministry Email: svdpnursingministry@gmail.com

Cautions About Mixing Alcohol and Medicines

Many medicines - prescription, over the counter, or herbal remedies - can be dangerous or even deadly when mixed with alcohol. Mixing alcohol with certain medications can cause nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, or loss of coordination. It also can put you at risk for internal bleeding, heart problems, and difficulties in breathing. In addition to these dangers, alcohol can make a medication less effective or even useless, or it may make the medication harmful or toxic to your body.

Mixing alcohol and medicines can be harmful. Alcohol, like some medicines, can make you sleepy, drowsy, or lightheaded. Drinking alcohol while taking medicines can intensify these effects. You may have trouble concentrating or performing mechanical skills. Small amounts of alcohol can make it dangerous to drive, and when you mix alcohol with certain medicines you put yourself at even greater risk. Combining alcohol with some medicines can lead to falls and serious injuries, especially among older people.

Many older people take medications every day, making this a particular concern. Older people are at particularly high risk for harmful alcohol-medication interactions. Aging slows the body’s ability to break down alcohol, so alcohol remains in a person’s system longer. Older people also are more likely to take a medication that interacts with alcohol - in fact, they often need to take more than one of these medications.

Before taking any medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you can safely drink alcohol. Here are some examples of potential dangers caused by mixing alcohol with some medicines:

If you take aspirin and drink, your risk of stomach or intestinal bleeding increases.
When combined with alcohol, cold and allergy medicines (antihistamines) may make you feel very sleepy.
Alcohol used with large doses of acetaminophen, a common painkiller, may cause liver damage.
Some medicines, such as cough syrups and laxatives, have a high alcohol content. If you simultaneously drink alcohol, that will add to the effects.
Alcohol used with some sleeping pills, pain pills, or anxiety/anti-depression medicine can be deadly.

Adapted from the National Institute on Aging – www.nia.nih.gov and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - www.niaaa.nih.gov

Wine is arrogant, strong drink is riotous; none who are intoxicated by them are wise. Proverbs 20:1

How To Help Someone You Know Who Drinks Too Much

Alcohol misuse often doses’t affect just one person. It can also cause stress and worry for friends and family. It can be difficult to communicate your concerns and find ways to help a loved one cut back or quit drinking. Following are suggestions on how to approach the topic, offer to help, and take care of yourself.

Step 1: Talk

Talk about your worries when the person is sober. Try to express what you think or feel, such as, “I am concerned about your drinking.”
Provide facts. Some people find it helpful just to have more information.
Try to avoid labels such as “alcoholic.”
You could start the conversation with: “I want to share some things I’ve learned about how alcohol affects the health of older adults” or “If you ever think about making a change, I’ve heard of some tools that can help.”
Ask if you can join in on a doctor or counselor appointment.

Step 2: Offer Your Help

Suggest activities that don’t include drinking alcohol.
Point the person toward helpful resources and tools.
Encourage counseling or attending a group meeting. Offer to drive the person to and from these meetings.
Keep in mind that overcoming alcohol use disorder is an ongoing process that may include setbacks.
Be supportive during treatment, such as joining the person for family or group counseling meetings or just listening and being patient.

Step 3: Take Care Of Yourself

Caring for someone with alcohol misuse or use disorder can be stressful. It may help to seek support from friends, family, community, or counseling groups.
Involve other family members or friends so you are not in this alone. Talk honestly about how you are feeling. Ask for the support or help you need.
Try going to counseling or special meetings that offer support to families and friends of people with alcohol use disorders. There may be programs at your local hospital or clinic.
If you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression, think about seeking professional help for yourself.

Adapted from the National Institute on Aging – www.nia.nih.gov

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.” Luke 21:34

Nursing Ministry Email: svdpnursingministry@gmail.com

How Alcohol Affects Safety

Drinking even a small amount of alcohol can lead to dangerous or even deadly situations because it can impair a person’s judgment, coordination, and reaction time. This increases the risk of falls, car crashes, and other accidents.

Alcohol is a factor in about 30% of suicides and fatal motor vehicle crashes, 40% of fatal burn injuries, 50% of fatal drownings and homicides, and 65% of fatal falls. People should not drink alcohol if they plan to drive, use machinery, or perform other actives that require attention, skill, or coordination.

In older adults, especially, too much alcohol can lead to balance problems and falls, which can result in hip or arm fractures and other injuries. Older people have thinner bones than younger people, so their bones break more easily. Studies show that the rate of various types of fractures in older adults increases with heavy alcohol use.

Adults of all ages who drink alcohol and drive are at higher risk of traffic accidents than those who do not drink. Drinking slows reaction times and coordination, and interferes with eye movement and information processing. People who drink even a moderate amount are at higher risk for traffic accidents, possibly resulting in injury or death to themselves and others. (Note that even without alcohol, the risk of a car accident goes up starting at age 55.) Also, older drivers tend to be more seriously hurt in crashes than younger drivers. Alcohol adds to these age-related risks.

In addition, alcohol misuse or alcohol use disorder can strain relationships with family members, friends, and others. At the extreme, heavy drinking can contribute to domestic violence and child abuse or neglect. Alcohol use is often involved when people become violent, as well as when they are violently attacked. If you feel that alcohol is endangering you or someone else, call 911 or obtain similar help right away.

Adapted from the National Institute on Aging – www.nia.nih.gov

Whoever linger long over wine, whoever go around quaffing wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup. It goes down smoothly, but in the end it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder. Proverbs 23:30-32

Nursing Ministry Email: svdpnursingministry@gmail.com

Alcohol Misuse or Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol misuse or alcohol use disorder is a pattern of drinking that can cause harm to a person’s health and social relationships. Drinking too much at one time or on any given day or having too many drinks over the course of a week increases the risk of harmful consequences, including injuries and health problems. Men should not have more than two drinks a day and women only one. Drinking less alcohol is better for health than drinking more.

The definition of “one drink” means:

One 12-ounce can or bottle of regular beer, ale, or hard seltzer
One 8- or 9-ounce can or bottle of malt liquor
One 5-ounce glass of red or white wine
One 1.5-ounce shot glass of 80-proof distilled spirits like gin, rum, tequila, vodka, or whiskey.

Using these “standard” drink sizes can make it easier to follow health guidelines. Another thing to keep in mind is that drinks may be stronger than you think they are if the actual serving sizes are larger than the standard sizes. In addition, drinks within the same beverage category, such as beer, can contain different percentages of alcohol. It’s important to read the label to understand and be aware of how much you’re actually drinking.

There are many potential reasons to cut down on or to stop drinking. Do any of these reasons sound true for you? A healthier approach to drinking alcohol could help you:

Keep your high blood sugar (diabetes) under control
Lower your blood pressure
Keep your liver working as it should
Avoid legal trouble or hurting yourself or others by drunk driving
Lessen the chances you will fall and hurt yourself
Feel less sleepy or sick the morning after you drink
Get back to enjoying the things you used to do
Stop feeling embarrassed about how you act when drinking
Prevent damage to relationships and friends and loved ones

Adapted from the National Institute on Aging – www.nia.nih.gov

… it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. Romans 14:21

Nursing Ministry Email: svdpnursingministry@gmail.com

Getting Help for Alcohol Misuse or Alcohol Use Disorder

Some people have no trouble cutting back on their drinking. But others will need to stop drinking completely. Alcohol problems can happen to people from all walks of life at any age, and, each year, millions of people seek help for alcohol problems.

Making a change in your drinking habits can be hard. Don’t give up! If you don’t reach your goal the first time, try again. The good news is you’re not in this alone. Don’t be afraid to talk with a doctor and ask your family and friends for help. Here are some approaches to try to get started:

Ask your doctor about advances in medication that might help you stick with alcohol abstinence longer or reduce cravings. Your health care professional may also be able to give you advice about treatment.
Talk to a trained counselor who knows about alcohol problems in older people.
Find a support group for older people with alcohol problems. Many people find group counseling sessions or meetings helpful.
Choose individual, family, or group therapy, depending on what works for you.
Check out an organization such as Alcoholics Anonymous that offers support and programs for people who want to stop drinking.
Consider websites or mobile applications that can help you track your alcohol intake and offer positive support as you make progress toward your goals.

Adapted from the National Institute on Aging – www.nia.nih.gov

Ah! Those who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, lingering late inflamed by wine, banqueting on wine with harp and lyre, timbrel and flute, but the deed of the LORD they do not regard, the work of his hands they do not see! Isaiah 5:11-12

Nursing Ministry Email: svdpnursingministry@gmail.com

Strategies to Cut Back or Quit Drinking

Many older adults decide to quit drinking in later life. You can do it too. Here are some ways to cut back or stop drinking:

Count how many ounces of alcohol you are getting in each drink.
Keep track of the number of drinks you have each day.
Decide how many days a week you want to drink. Plan some days that are free of alcohol.
In place of alcohol, try drinking water, juice, or soda. You could also try nonalcoholic “mocktails” or low-alcohol beer.
Remove alcohol from your home.
Ask for support from your family and advice from your health care provider. Get the help you need to cut back or quit.

As you evaluate your alcohol use, you may find that you drink more often in particular settings or in reaction to certain emotions, such as stress or boredom. Take time to learn about your habits and plan ahead on ways to make a change. Here are some ideas:

Develop interests that don’t involve alcohol.
Avoid people, places, and situations that may trigger your drinking.
Avoid drinking when you’re angry or upset or if you’ve had a bad day.
Plan what you will do if you have an urge to drink.
Learn to say “no, thanks” when you’re offered an alcoholic drink.
Remember to stay healthy for the fun things in life such as the birth of a grandchild, a long-anticipated trip or a holiday party.

Your body changes as you get older and that can affect daily routines. Be alert to these changes and think about adjusting your alcohol use so you can enjoy your life to the fullest.

Adapted from the National Institute on Aging – www.nia.nih.gov

When you are to go to the tent of meeting, you and your sons are forbidden, by a perpetual statue throughout your generations, to drink any wine or strong drink, lest you die. Leviticus 10:9