A 75 Year Old Man, a Colonel, Widowed, with Two

A 75 year old man, a colonel, widowed, with two children living with him has entered treatment. The precipitating event was the intervention of the family physician that had treated him for years and threatened to stop if he did not go to treatment. The man sees no reason to quit. He says he probably is an alcohol but he has good medical coverage and resources. He has never been to an AA meeting. What strategy is recommended? What might the best strategy?

A) Send him to two weeks of treatment including AA meetings and require that he attend them to stay in treatment.
B) Enlist the help of an older AA member that often is used to work with clients, with the permission of the client.
C) Do nothing; that is one of those many cases that is hopeless.
D) In two weeks assess the client's progress. Interview him concerning his willingness to change. If he is not, attempt transference to long term treatment. An intervention is recommended with families, friends and the doctor if he is resistant. Long term treatment of several months in a continued sober state and exposure of members and staff working on recovery may make a difference. He needs to find a reason to live without alcohol.