Explain late-life alcohol and sleeping-tablet plan to patient and son — CASC communication station

Station brief

Format. Communication station, approximately 7–10 minutes active time after reading. You are the psychiatry registrar on the old-age liaison service. ^[1]

Candidate instructions. Explain in plain language that alcohol and long-term sleeping tablets can cause serious harm in later life; address the son's worry that suggesting change means calling Dad an "alcoholic"; outline why stopping both suddenly in hospital is unsafe; describe a supervised plan including vitamins for brain protection, a slow temazepam reduction, alcohol supports and optional medication such as naltrexone; discuss mood and safety; check understanding. ^[1][2][4]