Ep. 41 | Substance Use, Misuse, and Abuse in the Elderly

"The number of Americans over the age of 65 is projected to more than double by 2060, rising from 46 million to more than 98 million.1 Baby boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) will be the first wave of this elderly population boom. As the elder boom unfolds, the number of seniors with substance abuse problems could increase significantly" (Thomas 2021). Join us this week as we deep dive into the ins and outs of substance use, abuse, and misuse in one of our communities' most vulnerable populations. The elderly turn to drugs and alcohol for many reasons, including physical and emotional pain, but despite difficulties accessing care, seniors who get help tend to do just as well if not better than those younger than them. We hope to open a conversation around how you can better identify the signs in your aging loved one and help them access treatment options. Show Notes: Julie's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/kids-note-about-her-100-year-old-self-speaks-for-us-all_uk_5c8b70a2e4b0db7da9f1fb17 Inga's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.upworthy.com/military-trick-that-can-help-you-fall-asleep-in-2-minutes Watch the Video: https://youtu.be/be122_2aoAE More information: -  Thomas, Scot: A Guide to Addiction and Recovery for the Elderly - National Institute on Drug Abuse: Substance Use in Older Adults Follow Inga & Julie! Connect with Inga on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inga-lake-4857301b8/ Connect with Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-brubaker-3a89b2114/ Follow Caregiven on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregivenpodcast/ Follow Caregiven on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecaregivenpodcast?lang=en Subscribe to the Caregiven YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChtq-gS4yCWGE5UFnrU8OAA Follow EPAGA Home Care on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EPAGAHomeCare Join the Care and Share Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/715609402176814 Follow EPAGA Home Care on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epagahomecare/ Follow EPAGA Home Care on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/epaga-home-care Visit EPAGA’s Website for more articles about home care: https://www.epagahomecare.com/articles Interested in going into business for yourself, but not by yourself? Learn about our home care franchise opportunities at www.epagahomecarefranchise.com!