I persuaded my husband to go to the doctors as his short term memory was getting bad. He got a referral to be assessed which I attended with him but the result of this was that he could not be diagnosed as they considered his alcohol consumption was well over the normal. I know he does drink too much but he is not a drunkard and at age 83 he is unlikely to change the habits of a lifetime. I feel like I've come up against a brick wall and that I am on my own with dealing with his dementia. I have talked to someone at our surgery and although she is sympathetic there is little they can do. She has given me some Help Line nos.