- Can you identify with any of these scenarios?
Susan, age 70, was feeling blue. It was her wedding anniversary, and her husband wasn’t around to share it. She missed him so much. But, she didn’t talk about it, because many of her friends were widowed and seemed fine. She decided not to eat alone tonight, so she went out. She had a few drinks at dinner, became dizzy when driving home and got into an accident. Susan was very angry when the police offer suggested that her drinking may have contributed to the accident.
Paul, age 68, was restless and woke up after only a few hours of sleep. It was too early to take the pills his doctor had prescribed, but his lack of sleep was affecting his life. He took two pills -- just this once -- in hopes that they would help him get some needed rest.
Martha, age 62, looked at her arms and saw bruises that hadn’t been there the day before. Recently her memory lapses had become frequent. She didn’t recall bumping into anything. In fact, she didn’t even recall falling asleep the night before. Martha always prided herself on a good memory and was concerned about her forgetting. She was embarrassed and didn’t know what to do. Her husband seems to think it’s related to her drinking. Martha thinks he just doesn’t understand.
Peter, age 75, had been a leader of men in the war and in his career. And, adjusting to retirement was difficult. He found himself more and more looking forward to visiting his friends at the local club to have a few drinks, even though he’d noticed that he couldn’t drink as much as he used to. Of course, he thought, that’s probably a good thing because his doctor had told him to cut down for his health. Plus, one of his children had expressed concern that Peter’s drinking affected his mood. But, Peter was sure nothing was wrong. He’d been drinking for 50 years and could certainly hold his liquor.
These people look just like you and me. They're our friends, neighbors, relatives and fellow club members. They've worked, raised families and contributed to their communities. Yet, at some point each individual's use of alcohol or medication became a problem.
Abuse of alcohol and medications is an often overlooked problem among older adults. A higher level of denial exists in the community about this issue and the symptoms of this problem are usually different from those displayed in younger individuals. More appropriate signals of abuse in people over 65 include housing problems, falls or accidents, poor nutrition, inadequate self care, and social isolation. However, these symptoms are often misdiagnosed as stereotypical signs of aging such as dementia, depression, disorientation, forgetfulness or confusion.
Yet, approximately 10 percent of all people 65 and older are abusing one or both substances. In fact, a New York state survey showed 19 percent of men and 7 percent of women age 65 and older are heavy drinkers (two or more drinks per day). An additional 65 percent of men and 48 percent of women in this age group said they drink occasionally.
These figures are significant when you consider that physiological changes in older adults make them more susceptible to the effects of alcohol. A decrease in muscle tissue and an increase in fatty tissue reduces an older body’s ability to absorb and dispose of alcohol. This results in a lower alcohol tolerance level.
The good news is that help is available. Alcohol or medication abuse is a very treatable problem that people don’t need to “handle” alone. One special outpatient program for older adults that is affordable and accessible is the Older Adult Recovery Service provided by Crouse Health. For more information contact Crouse Chemical Dependency Treatment Services at 315/470-8304. Medicaid, Medicare and most insurances are accepted for payment.
If you recognize yourself or someone you know in any of these stories, please call for help: 315/470-8304.
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Older Adult Recovery Service at Crouse Chemical Dependency Treatment Services
WHO:
Comprehensive program meeting needs of older adults -- women/ men age 55 and older -- abusing alcohol or other substances (medications)
WHAT:
Comprehensive program of recovery tailored to specific needs of older adults (using elder-sensitive treatment)
- Activities/expressive therapy
- Socialization skills training
- Alcohol/drug testing (breathalyser/urine screening)
- Family/individual counseling
WHERE:
Crouse CDTS Outpatient Clinic: 410 S. Crouse Avenue, Syracuse
WHEN:
Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. for approximately three months, followed by continuing-care program.
HOW:
Payment options include Medicaid, Medicare, most insurances, self-pay Crouse CDTS counselors work directly with many referral sources to insure optimal support and success
WHY:
Chemical dependency (alcohol/drugs) significantly interferes with the health, enjoyment and quality of life of older adults.
Signs and symptoms of chemical dependency among older adults are often misinterpreted as stereotypical signs of aging, such as dementia, depression, disorientation, forgetfulness or confusion.
LEARN:
Crouse CDTS offers education/training for a variety of individuals -- healthcare workers, geriatric service providers and family members
CONTACT:
Sandra Madaio, MS, CASAC.
CDTS Older Adult Recovery Services Program -- 315/470-8340
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