How to Help The Elderly In Addiction And Bring Them To Recovery

Addiction is a disease that has no preference for affecting people of different ages, gender, or status. It can affect anyone at any time, and the affected person wouldn't realize he/she has drowned deeply into the depths of addiction. Despite what people say, addiction doesn't only happen to people in adolescent or adult stages of life. Many people become addicted when they reach the later years of their life. Older people of any society are just as susceptible to drug addiction or alcoholism as the young. And considering their already deteriorating health, it can become a concerning situation for them. For this reason, it is vital to wean them off substances as soon as possible. The following are some essential steps to take. 

Provide Attention

People in old age take various directions, whether remaining living in their own homes, or moving to retirement villages to spend the rest of their life. Doing this can leave some in a state of isolation and have them develop depression. Even if they decided to go to an elderly home on their own accord, your parents might start to feel lonely and take to drugs or alcohol as a means of comfort. Especially if a parent is all alone in their journey without a partner. When an elderly individual goes to stay at a different home from yours, make sure that they are well looked after and don't feel lonely.

Take A Look At Prescriptions

Most of our elderly population become prone to some kind of disease, condition, depression, or simply suffer from pain in different parts of their bodies. For combating these, they get prescriptions, which can take a toll on them, and they develop a dependency. This dependency can drive a person all the way to addiction. Several medications for the elderly may include opioids that are meant to relieve pain but can be the start of addiction for the elderly. Watch that your loved one doesn't show signs of allure to their prescriptions and consult a doctor before taking their medication away from them, as this can cause the condition to worsen.  

Counseling

People in their old age aren't as communicative as they were in their youth. They often won't admit to their problems readily and talk about it. An elderly person may feel like they are burdening people around them by narrating their problems. Or they might be unaware of it themselves. So if they are suffering from addiction, it can be hard for you to identify and have them admit to it. You can counsel them and have them open up about it to you in private. If they resist, you can ask them to accompany you to an addiction therapist. The therapist will know how to talk them into admitting they have a problem and finding a solution. 

Get Help

The next step after your elderly loved one is diagnosed with an addiction problem is getting help to cure it. They will resist the need to wean off, and to some extent, they can be right. If you are to take away an entire part of their lives through which they deal with underlying problems, they may not be able to live as they'd like and is best for them. But if your parent agrees to take the plunge to cure, then support them at each step. On Google, search for addiction clinics near me and visit different firms to administer a proper recovery program for your loved one. Help them fight the urge to go to drugs and come out of addiction healthily.