As people age, the incidence of arthritis tends to rise, leading to an increase in aches and pains. Levels of general anxiety can also grow with the years.
What do many of the elderly do in the face of these problems?
They seek medical advice and treatment that often includes one or more drug therapies.
Now add a degree of affluence to the mix, and you have a potent recipe for trouble.
Sadly – conventional physicians are often all too willing to prescribe medications before considering other less dangerous options – particularly for older patients.
And what starts as a case of simple back pain and a prescription of low-dose opioid painkillers quickly morphs into a full-blown addiction.
And remarkably, very few physicians even screen for addiction among the general population – let alone the elderly.
What’s more – addiction in this age group is often challenging to spot.
Add aches and pains to insomnia or generalized anxiety (common in older Americans) – and you find the elderly being treated with multiple medications simultaneously … all at a time when the slowing metabolism of later years is altering the way the elderly process the medicines they’re given.
The result? Unexplained falls. Increased confusion. Diminished mobility. Misdiagnosed dementia. And a sharp decline in the quality of life.
All the while – problems of addiction are overlooked. Add affluence to the mix – and with it, the ability to game the system (i.e., getting multiple physicians to write prescriptions), and one can quickly see how drug use can get out of control.
Can the elderly be treated for addiction the same way as younger patients?
Yes – but detoxing older patients is often more complex, requiring careful monitoring for a more extended period.
These patients also tend to do better and suffer less discomfort and confusion when addiction rehab services are provided to them in their home environments – using models like the one developed by Aware Recovery Care.
Extensive research has shown that receiving medical care and monitored support in the home promotes faster recovery, improves outcomes, and increases the patient’s overall physical and psychological well-being.
If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol and need help in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana, the recovery teams at Aware Recovery Care are here to help. And we come to you, regardless of where you live. Our unique in-home treatment model of care gives clients a significantly better chance of recovery compared to traditional inpatient rehab care. Please get in touch with one of our Recovery Specialists to learn more.
