re: Need Help for an Alcoholic Family Member

He has a ready made codependent alcoholic in the house? That's a major uphill battle.

Sounds terminal. If he fought in Vietnam the guy is pushing up on or over 70. Never too late, but being that old makes odds much less. Just spend time with the person. Let him know how you feel without being confrontational. He is NOT commitable by the sound of this and he has a wife around, so he would just push you away.

Leave him the life line of always being there to get him help, but you'll help him in no other way. Financial etc. liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy are not a pretty ending. He will eventually end up in a facility of some sort where he can't drink anymore, while he is still lucid spend what time you can with him. Until it becomes painful for you. Meaning he gets shitfaced or always sick.