Think it's tough being a senior with an alcohol problem? It's even tougher if you are an older woman. In the study, 33% of the seniors had mobility impairments, making it far harder for them to get around. Among older women, this rate soared to 59%.

As well:

�	31% of older women were experiencing chronic pain, often from arthritis or osteoporosis, compared to 12% for the clients generally.

�	22% of the women experienced numerous falls, compared to 15% generally among the clients.

Why do some older women drink? Often, it is a brief escape from pain. Chronic physical pain is very common among older women.

But there can be emotional pain as well. A significant number of the women in this study were currently experiencing abuse. Or, they had suffered abuse in the past, and were still dealing with the emotional consequences of that earlier abuse.

• SUCCESS STORIES Many people become disheartened when they see a senior who has an alcohol problem.

You see the person come into the hospital (or in crisis), time and time again. Or, you see an endless line of people with alcohol problems, who after a while begin to all look the same.

It is easy to simply see an old person. You usually don't get to know the whole person who has a full life behind them.

And you usually don't get to see the person when he or she is doing better - in other words, the improvements and successes.

Coming up, seniors talk a bit about what has changed in their lives since receiving help; what their goals have been; how they view success; and what helped them get to where they are.

• SOME PERSONAL SUCCESS STORIES
First, Putting Things in Context: Most of us do not recognize what having a alcohol or other substance abuse problem feels like for a senior, and the consequences it has in the person's life.