C.E.C.

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C. E. C.C. E. C. Cooperation

with theElder Community

Presentation for Seniors & Senior Programs

AREA 5 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

www.aascaa.orgcec@aascaa.org

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The A.A. Grapevine Our Meeting in Print www.aagrapevine.org

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUSALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IN YOUR COMMUNITY IN YOUR COMMUNITY

www.aa.org

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Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous General Service Office (GSO)General Service Office (GSO)

• GSO noticed AA Membership Aging,• 1990 GSO publishes pamphlet for

seniors.• 1990 Area 49 in New York starts “Sober

Over Sixty” meeting.• 2001 34% of AA members over 50 years

of age.• 2007 41% of AA members over 50 years

of age, a 30% increase.

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Alcoholics AnonymousAlcoholics AnonymousC.E.C.

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COOPERATION WITH THE ELDER COMMUNITYCOOPERATION WITH THE

ELDER COMMUNITY

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• Loss of spouse

• Deteriorating medical condition

• Loss of career and family

• Financial Difficulties

• Reflections on death

Some Special Challenges for Senior Sobriety

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WHAT DOES A.A. DO FOR THE SENIOR WHAT DOES A.A. DO FOR THE SENIOR WITH A DRINKING PROBLEM?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.

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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

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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

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A.A. CAN HELP THE A.A. CAN HELP THE OLDER ALCOHOLICOLDER ALCOHOLIC

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• 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 ?

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• 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. COMMITTEEOF AREA 5 WANT FROM UPTOWN SENIORS?

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THANK YOU!

Cooperation with the

Elder Community

C.E.C. COMMITTEE

AREA 5 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

www.aascaa.org

cec@aascaa.org