This report notes the growing awareness of alcohol problems among the elderly during the past 5 to 10 years, and reviews the final conclusions of the federal demonstration project, Senior Alcohol Services. Five basic concepts are included: (1) there are a growing number of elderly persons with alcohol problems (10-15% of all persons over age 60); (2) alcohol problems underlie and/or exacerbate medical problems in the elderly; (3) the elderly as a group are entirely treatable; (4) some unique characteristics of the elderly must be considered in diagnosis and treatment; and (5) effective treatment modalities differ widely. Some innovative and successful treatment approaches are described, and specific clinical issues of use in working with the elderly patient are discussed. Four appendices are included. Appendix A compares symptoms of alcoholism, aging, and drug side effects, and provides information useful to clinicians in making a differential diagnosis. Physiological reasons that alcohol has a more profound impact as the body ages are reviewed in Appendix B, which describes effects of aging and of alcohol on neurological considerations, sleep, heart and circulation, liver, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, nutrition, and stress response. Appendix C looks at clinical treatment issues, listing characteristics that clinicians must consider in treating elderly clients. Appendix D examines family issues in elderly alcoholism. (Author/NB)