Substance Use Treatment Program for Older Adults

Pennsylvania

Highlights of the Older Adult Program

Of the 55 million older adults in the US in 2020, 4.4 million of them will need substance abuse treatment. This issue may go unnoticed by family members and friends. In many cases, even the person with the alcohol or drug problem may not realize the extent of the problem. Being aware of unusual behavior in your loved one is a critical first step in diagnosing a substance use disorder and getting treatment.

Caron has provided treatment for substance use disorders for more than 60 years. We know that treatment utilizing dialectical (DBT) and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) is most effective in teaching older adults new coping and relationship skills. With specialty groups, we also use modalities such as DBT, CBT, and cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and trauma programming. We use proven behavioral health therapies that preserve dignity, build self-esteem, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

An Adaptable, Comprehensive Treatment Program

Caron’s specialized Older Adult Program addresses addiction along with co-occurring conditions commonly seen in older adults. The program, located at Caron Pennsylvania, is effective for the use of early intervention, treatment, and relapse prevention.

We embrace the benefits of a personalized, flexible approach to achieving wellness, adapting our program for a person’s age and physical, mental, and emotional condition. Significant medical issues—like chronic pain, diabetes, or cardiac problems—are also taken into account in the patient’s individualized treatment plan.

For each patient, our addiction specialists administer a psychological assessment, which includes cognitive testing. Our specialists continue to monitor patients for improvement and will adjust care plans as necessary. Patients build social support networks, gain self-awareness, overcome difficult emotions such as grief and depression, and restore their sense of meaning and purpose.

The daily schedule is crafted to adhere to each patient’s pace with the inclusion of activities that take into account mobility and possible co-occurring mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and trauma.

Treatment Components

A multidisciplinary treatment team creates a personalized plan to treat substance abuse, co-occurring disorders, and significant medical issues. The plan includes these components as needed:

The plan also encompasses daily wellness therapies such as stretching, meditation, yoga, physical therapy, massage and acupuncture. It encourages exercise through movement groups, dancing mindfulness, therapeutic drumming, and others as recommended by the treatment team.

We also treat couples who are suffering from substance abuse.

Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse in Older Adults

Because some of the signs of substance abuse mirror the signs of aging, it can be difficult to recognize if there is an issue or its extent. Medications that many older people take may mask or mimic substance abuse symptoms. The fact that older people generally also drink or take drugs at home alone also makes it difficult to know if they need treatment for substance use disorder.

Due to the normal aging process, drugs and alcohol affect every part of the body differently because it cannot metabolize the same way it had. These signs and symptoms may indicate substance abuse: