Track
Co-Occurring Disorders
Description
The older adult population in America is growing, and those working with older adults need to be aware of unique issues and effective interventions that will be relevant to the individual’s generational perspective. This presentation explains the prevalence of substance use disorders in the older adult population, including signs, symptoms and risk factors for substance use disorder that are specific to older adults. Attendees will gain an understanding of the need for treatment programming that is age specific and tailored to the needs of older adults. A collaboration between the Multnomah County Older Adult Behavioral Health Investment Team and Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare was formed in 2016, and from that collaboration the Young at Heart program was born. This presentation identifies the components of elder specific treatment and provides step by step instruction on how to adapt current programming, using evidence based approaches, to improve outcomes for older clientele.