Dear SAL,

My father passed away last year. My mother, who at 75 is in good health, has had a very difficult time adjusting to life without him. In the past, she occasionally enjoyed a glass of wine in the evening, but I've noticed she is drinking three to four drinks every night. I'm concerned about how this is affecting her health. When I recently expressed this concern, she said it helps her get through her lonely evenings. She feels that because it's only wine, there is no reason I should be worried. Am I making too much of this? 

-Wine-Worried

Dear Worried,

I am sorry for the loss of your father. If your mother is interested, you may want to find out whether she would like to receive support during this period of grieving, either on an individual basis or in a group setting. Support for your mother's grieving process (as well as your own) may be found in two local grief support groups. Hospice of the Foothills offers three weekly grief support groups. There is no cost to participate, but you must register to attend. Hospice of the Foothills also offers free assessments and referrals to services to aid the healing process. Contact Cynthia Meilicke, M.S. C.P., Manager of Bereavement and Community Services at (530) 272-5739.

Another local grief support group is the Healing through Loss and Grief group held at FREED Center for Independent Living. The group follows a 14-week structured program that has open entry during the first two weeks. Call Theodora at 530-913-0229 or email Vern Smith at ve262smith@live.com to get upcoming start dates.

You mentioned that you are concerned about how much your mother is drinking in the evenings. She may or may not be developing a dependency on alcohol; this type of assessment would have to come from a qualified professional. If she were to need help dealing with alcohol dependency, local resources include Community Recovery Resources (CoRR) and Common Goals.

As you travel the path of helping your mother, please know that there is plenty of support and guidance along the way and it will be well worth your efforts.

Best of luck to you and your mother.