Dear Friends,
As we approach the autumn season, many of us welcome a reprieve from what seemed to be an unusually warm and humid summer with very little relief from an occasional cool spell. September marks Substance Use Recovery Month. It is important for us to increase our awareness of substance use disorders (SUDs) in our older population. The op-ed in this newsletter edition provides an overview of this challenge and its impact on people as they age. During the pandemic, we have seen an increase in SUDs across all age groups, often due to isolation, depression, and anxiety. Professionals must be prepared to support and guide people with SUDs and their families. Most importantly, we must recognize problems as early as possible and help people get the appropriate care.
Have a wonderful fall season.
Best,
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Tara A. Cortes, PhD, RN, FAAN |
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Barriers to Identifying and Treating Substance Use Disorders in Old Adults
Liz Seidel, MSW
HIGN
September is National Recovery Month which aims to increase awareness of substance use disorders (SUDs). Too often, older adults are left out of conversations on substance use treatment, despite the growth in SUDs in this population as the baby boomers age. Factors in later life that contribute or exacerbate SUDs include stressors such as retirement, changes in health, shrinking social supports, isolation, and loss of a spouse. The lack of identification and treatment of SUDs in older adults has detrimental effects. Substance use worsens chronic conditions and memory issues and can lead to falls and other injuries.
What are some of the reasons we fail to identify SUDs in older adults?
- Providers’ stereotypes of older adults
- Use of assessment tools that are not appropriate for older adults
- Signs of SUDs can be mistaken for age-related changes and other chronic conditions
- Older adults that may be reluctant to admit substance use due to stigma
When substance use disorders are identified, there are challenges in linking older adults to treatment. Older adults are less likely to receive treatment than younger people, and few substance use programs are tailored to meet the needs of the aging population.
What can we do to improve substance use treatment for older adults?
- Build awareness among health and social service providers
- Train staff on best practices in working with older adults
- Create programs specific to older adults. Studies have shown that older adults prefer peer treatment groups.
- Address life transitions faced by older adults
- Work on rebuilding social supports
- Time the program at a pace appropriate to older adults
- Adapt materials for older adults, for example, increasing the font
Treatment benefits older adults. Once in treatment, older adults are more likely to complete treatment than other age groups. As the baby boomer population ages, more older adults are seeking treatment for substance use disorders. These programs must adjust to meet the needs of this population to offer the best treatment possible.
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Prof. Ab Brody, Associate Director of HIGN, Installed as the
Mathy Mezey Endowed Chair in Geriatric Nursing
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Almost 23 years ago, I fatefully walked into HIGN as a research assistant. As a pre-med biology major at NYU my goal was to become a pediatric oncologist. I worked for Dr. Mathy Mezey and the amazing HIGN team over the remaining 3.5 years of my schooling at NYU. I was inspired by Mathy's leadership, vision, and character to become a geriatric nurse. Being installed as the Mathy Mezey Endowed Chair in Geriatric Nursing has high sentimental symbolism for me. She showed me how nurses shape care for older adults and I can only hope that, in some small way, I will live up to what she has accomplished for the field and the people we serve.
Join us in Congratulating Prof. Brody!
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September is Healthy Aging Month, raising awareness of older adults’ health and well-being and celebrating the positive aspects of growing older.
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Recognizing Recovery: 25% off Behavioral Health Resources |
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Use Code sud_awareness for 25% off
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Overview of Geropsychiatric Nursing
Serious and Persistent Mental Health Conditions in Older Adults
Diversity, Inclusiveness and Cross-Cultural Competence in Older Adults with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness
Depression in Older Adults
Reducing Iatrogenic Brain Injury in Older Adults
Health Disparities and Geropsychiatric Nursing Practice
PTSD in Older Adults
Bipolar Disorder in Older Adults
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Substance Use Disorders Course and Case Studies
Depressive Disorders Course and Case Studies
Risk Screening Course and Case Studies
Trauma-related Disorders Course and Case Studies
Social Determinants of Health Course and Case Studies
LGBT Diversity Inclusion Course and Case Studies
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HIGN Highlights
Prof. Bei Wu commented in a new article for BBC about the many potential impacts of gum disease on the human body, including Alzheimer's.
Fidelindo Lim, DNP, CCRN will be inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) on October 29, 2022 in Washington, DC.
Dr. Ma (PI) and her team, including Dr. Bei Wu and Dr. Allison Squires, received a pilot research award from NYU Meyers Pless Research Center to explore the collaboration among home health care providers.
Postdoctoral Associate Becca Lassell, PhD, OTR/L, has been selected for the Clin-Star Pilot Grant.
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