Perceptions of Elders' Substance Abuse and Resilience

Abstract

Human service students' (social work, criminal justice, public administration, psychology) were surveyed (N = 242). Their perceptions about older persons' resilience and recovery from substance abuse were investigated. Overall, respondents did not agree that treating older persons for a substance abuse problem was wasteful of resources or older people do not benefit from treatment. However, respondents did not agree that older persons who consumed more than two alcoholic beverages per day had an alcohol-related problem, that drinking more than two alcoholic beverages per day had health consequences for an older person, or that alcohol was used by elders to self-medicate for depression and loneliness. Using a simple regression analysis, a final model for perceptions about older persons' recovery and resilience included the predictor variables of perceptions about older persons and street substances, perceptions about treatment and older persons, perceptions about abuse, health, and older persons, and age. Results indicated that the predictor variables accounted for more than 30% of the variance in perceptions about older person's recovery and resilience (R(2) = .331; adjusted R(2) = .319).

Substance Abuse Policies in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Survey with Implications for Education of Long-Term Care Providers

“…Past studies have shown that nursing home staff are not generally knowledgeable regarding mental health problems (Caston, 1983); alcohol problems (Peressini & McDonald, 1998); or substance abuse problems in general (Kane & Green, 2009). This lack of knowledge is associated with a SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICIES IN LONG-TERM FACILITIES common failure to intervene with, or refer for treatment, nursing home residents with psychiatric or addiction problems.…”

Prevalence of substance abuse and socio-economic differences in substance abuse in an Australian community-dwelling elderly sample

“…American studies report the prevalence of alcohol abuse in community-dwelling older adults ranges from 3 percent to 30 percent. The prevalence of alcohol abuse among older people presenting in healthcare settings has been consistently higher, ranging from 5 percent to 58 percent in hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutional settings (Cummings et al, 2008;Kane and Green, 2009;Patterson and Jeste, 1999).…”