Is it possible to convince mom to give up her vodka cocktails?

Question

will they shorten her life? She is 89, in great health except for some high blood pressure.

Answer 1

Well technically, she shouldn't be drinking and taking meds
for her high blood pressure. But at her age, let her enjoy what
little life she has left. For an average younger person, they
say one drink is fine once a day. And can even be beneficial.
But that's for someone not on meds. Alcohol can increase
our blood pressure, but here again. If she's got a strong
heart, let her have her toddy for the body.

Answer 2

Has her doctor said she must give up her vodka cocktails, or is it your opinion?

Up until now she's succeeded in keeping her health, and the vodka cocktails just could relax her enough to keep the blood pressure from going higher.

I'm not opposed to a good Cosmo or Marguerita from time to time, and a beer or two a week.

Answer 3

Years ago when I was younger I had a neighbor that lived to be 103, she never wore glasses, knitted all the time and sipped shots of whiskey all day long, on Sundays she had her whiskey and a sloe gin fiz. She told the church minister when she turned 100 that she was sure the whiskey and gin was what contributed to her long life. She had 2 daughters in their 70's and the 3 of them used to sing Old Dan Tucker. Don't pester your mom, let her do what she wants at 89 you should be going to the liquor store for her. Used to have an old aunt that would call me on Sundays and have me come and get her and then go to get vodka for a 'few' martinis. She lived to be 94. She would come to the house for lunch and drinks and a nap and then I would take her and her jug home. A great aunt used to drink scotch and wine, she would have me come and get her bottles so they would not be in her trash. She lived to be 85 and she also smoked--walked 6 miles to work and 6 miles home for years, retired when she was 80. Oh and she could still put both of her feet behind her head.

Answer 4

If she is 89 and in great health and shes been doing it this long. Why stop her. Let her enjoy the rest of her time here. My grandmother is 92 and she starts her happy hour everyday at 4:30pm. She has 4 vodka collins before the night is over and she loves every minute of it. Its harmless. But its nice of you to be so concerned. We once were concerned but realized it is more important at this stage of life for them to be happy.

Answer 5

If she is in good health, be thankful for that! She could be in ill health and not able to care for herself, then you would have so much more to worry about. I know, I'm living through it now with my Mom, and being an only child, it is extremely hard to handle alone. I wish my Mom at 79 were in great health. So if your Mom enjoys her vodka cocktails, let her enjoy them. And I hope you enjoy your Mom as well. We only have one, and we only have them for a while. No matter what their age, they will always be too young to leave us. God bless you and your Mom.

Answer 6

Probably not at age 89. As long as her BP isn't dangerously high, she isn't misbehaving or sleeping all the time, and if she's neither driving or mixing vodka with drugs, I 'd leave her alone. Bottom line, of course, is talk to her Dr with her present if possible.

Answer 7

Apparently the cocktails haven't shortened her life if she's 89 y/o. I can understand & appreciate your concerns, but let mom continue to enjoy her cocktails. :)

Answer 8

My grand mother drank and it killed her. When she was 96 she fell probably from drinking and then never walked again, had to go to assisted living. She died just 2 years later if she hadn't fallen she might still be alive now since she died less than a year ago and would have been 100 this Christmas.
But she enjoyed drinking so maybe stopping sooner would have had her die of boredom sooner.

Answer 9

Let her enjoy her life.
We're all going to die in the end. When she pass, what would you like to remember? Your mother living her life at its fullest? Or your mother on a wheelchair in front of a tv set sipping water with a straw?

It's sad to think that we're going to loose our loved ones, but it's a fact of life, it's life. What's the point of making life longer if we're not able to live it?

Talk this out with her. If I were in her place I'd say "Son, you have your own life now and I'm no longer responsible for you. This is my time to live for myself. When I'm gone, throw a party in my memory. Don't be sad because I'm gone, celebrate that i was here."

Answer 10

Unless she's going to drive or operate heavy equipment, let mom enjoy her vodka cocktails. Like most moms, I'm sure she has earned them over the years. I'll bet she would probably treasure it if you sat down with her sometime and enjoyed one yourself. Cheers!