C. E. C. Cooperation with the Elder Community Presentation for Seniors & Senior Programs AREA 5 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

C. E. C. The A.A. Grapevine Our Meeting in Print ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IN YOUR COMMUNITY

C. E. C. Alcoholics Anonymous General Service Office (GSO) GSO noticed AA Membership Aging, 1990 GSO publishes pamphlet for seniors Area 49 in New York starts “ Sober Over Sixty ” meeting % of AA members over 50 years of age % of AA members over 50 years of age, a 30% increase.

C. E. C. Alcoholics Anonymous C. E. C. COOPERATION WITH THE ELDER COMMUNITY COOPERATION WITH THE ELDER COMMUNITY

C. E. C. Loss of spouse Deteriorating medical condition Loss of career and family Financial Difficulties Reflections on death Some Special Challenges for Senior Sobriety

C. E. C. WHAT DOES A.A. DO FOR THE SENIOR WITH A DRINKING PROBLEM? Helps seniors to identify symptoms of problem drinking. Offers a Twelve Step program of recovery. Helps seniors find groups that put on A.A. meetings where A.A. members share their experience. A.A. meetings may be open or closed. At open meetings anyone may attend and observe. Closed meetings are for those with a drinking problem.

C. E. C. WHAT DOES A.A. NOT DO FOR THE SENIOR WITH A DRINKING PROBLEM? Solicit members Make Medical diagnoses Provide hospitalization or drugs Keep attendance records/case histories Offer religious services Address prevention, treatment, advocacy or legislation

C. E. C. WHAT ARE A FEW OF THE SYMPTOMS OF PROBLEM DRINKING? Drinking alone Lying about drinking Getting drunk, even when you don’t want to Guzzling drinks Thinking it is good to be able to drink a lot Drinking when you get irritated, frustrated, unhappy or angry

C. E. C. A.A. CAN HELP THE OLDER ALCOHOLIC

C. E. C. A program of action A way to stop drinking and stay stopped. The suggested Twelve Steps is the program of recovery The steps are based on the experience of early A.A. members. The A.A. program is spiritual, not religious WHAT IS THE A.A. TWELVE STEP PROGRAM OF RECOVERY ?

C. E. C. To be recognized and accepted as a resource in your community in helping seniors with drinking problems. To help seniors you know are suffering from problem drinking by giving them A.A. literature and meeting directories available at your center. To encourage seniors with problem drinking to contact the A.A. local office for direct personal assistance at any time of the day or night. The telephone number of the local office is stamped on each piece of literature and meeting directory. WHAT DOES THE C.E.C. COMMITTEE OF AREA 5 WANT FROM UPTOWN SENIORS?

C. E. C. THANK YOU! Cooperation with the Elder Community C.E.C. COMMITTEE AREA 5 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS