In the past few decades, there has been a significant increase in older adults diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD). Individuals 65 and older often face unique challenges during treatment and continuing care. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to learn how to effectively treat clients of all ages, ensuring they receive the best care to meet their needs.
Challenges of Treating Older Adults for Substance Abuse
Older adults may have difficulty navigating the treatment process, and some require additional forms of support. Healthcare professionals use comprehensive assessments and screening tools to determine what resources clients may benefit from during treatment and ongoing recovery.
Some of the most common challenges of treating older individuals with SUD include:
- Stigma and shame surrounding substance abuse or treatment
- Generational attitudes toward addiction and mental health
- Chronic health conditions
- Prescription medication management
- Limited mobility or transportation issues
- Social isolation and a lack of support systems
- Financial barriers to starting or maintaining treatment
- Lack of age-specific programs
- Co-occurring cognitive decline
- Greater vulnerability to severe withdrawal symptoms
- Unhealthy family dynamics
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Aging could possibly lead to social and physical changes that may increase vulnerability to substance misuse.” Treatment must address the underlying causes of the addictive behaviors to help older clients avoid falling back into maladaptive patterns of behavior after they complete treatment.
Stigma and Misinformation
People often avoid activities that may cause others to think of them in a negative way. Societal expectations of what addiction or mental health disorders look like for older adults may make it harder for some people to accept the need for professional treatment.
Some of the stigma and misinformation related to seniors with alcohol or drug addiction include:
- Older adults may believe it is acceptable to abuse alcohol, prescription opioids, or other substances to address chronic pain
- The belief that older adults are “set in their ways” and incapable of changing addictive behaviors
- Misinformation about age-related memory issues and confusion may make it more difficult for individuals and families to recognize signs of substance abuse
- Addiction is often seen as less disruptive or problematic in retired individuals
- Many people believe rehab programs are for “young people” and do not have the resources to effectively treat older adults
- Some people may believe alcohol or drug abuse is a normal way to cope with loneliness caused by social isolation
- Older people may believe addiction is only experienced by younger age groups
Normalizing conversations about the realities of addiction and mental health with clients and families reduces stigma and misinformation. Healthcare professionals have an important role in educating communities and ensuring clients understand the risk factors associated with age. Family therapy, psychoeducation, and other support services provide clients and families with essential information about substance abuse and addiction recovery.
Additional Barriers to Treatment for Older Adults
Seniors face additional barriers to starting and maintaining professional addiction treatment, including:
- Heightened sense of guilt, embarrassment, or shame
- Resistance to change
- Coping with grief or loss during recovery
Seniors also often take multiple prescription medications, making it difficult for them to benefit from medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and other services. Healthcare professionals educate individuals and families to help clients overcome barriers to treatment.
How Does Driftwood Recovery Treat Older Adults?
The addiction and mental health experts at Driftwood Recovery use tailored care plans and family support to treat older adults with SUD or dual diagnosis. Clinicians understand that older adults may struggle to connect with the care team or have difficulty adhering to treatment expectations. Rehabilitation programs offer flexibility to ensure the care team can adapt to the needs of each client.
Many resources are available to help healthcare professionals provide high-quality care to seniors. For example, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) “has a number of products for serving older adults with mental and substance use disorders that can be useful to clinicians, other service providers, older adults, and caregivers.”
Becoming Familiar With the Needs of Seniors
Seniors have unique needs to ensure their continued mental, physical, and spiritual wellness during treatment for substance abuse or mental health disorders. Healthcare professionals support seniors by becoming familiar with their needs through assessments, one-on-one intersections, and collaboration with family members.
Every client has different needs and life situations. However, healthcare workers can effectively support seniors in rehabilitation by doing the following:
- Personalizing treatment to the cognitive, physical, and emotional needs of seniors
- Addressing co-occurring conditions during treatment
- Creating a safe and comfortable environment by adjusting lighting or noise levels and making other accommodations for sensory or mobility issues
- Using simple, direct language and written instructions to communicate clearly
- Connecting seniors with peers
- Educating families about the unique challenges of addiction and recovery for seniors
- Offering alternative holistic services to support spiritual and mental health
Staff members at Driftwood Recovery ensure that older clients have access to essential and complimentary services to provide the best possible treatment outcomes.
Seniors with substance use disorder often struggle to get the support they need due to multiple barriers to treatment. Stigma, lack of resources, age-related health issues, and other factors make it more difficult for older adults to participate in rehabilitation programs. Healthcare professionals make their programs more accessible to older adults by offering tailored treatment services addressing their unique needs. Family engagement is often an essential part of treatment for older adults to ensure they have support during continuing care. Driftwood Recovery treats seniors using personalized treatment plans and an integrative approach to care that ensures consistency. To learn more about our programs and facility, call us today at (512) 759-8330.