No matter what age a person is, they can experience mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and mood disorders; they can also experience addiction and substance use disorders. When someone experiences a combination of the two and is diagnosed by a medical professional, it is called a dual diagnosis, which can be found in a range of age groups.
As well as mental health issues and substance use issues, seniors have a range of additional challenges that younger people don’t often consider. Older people might have mobility issues, memory loss or depression, and isolation due to bereavement. These are important factors to consider when diagnosing and treating an older adult for a variety of issues.
Key Takeaways: Dual Diagnosis in Seniors
- A dual diagnosis is made when someone has a clinical illness and substance use
- Dual diagnosis can affect anyone, but it is more dangerous in older adults and seniors
- Older adults have the same health issues as young people, with extra age-related factors
- Many seniors living with dual diagnosis can be treated adequately through outpatient care
- In some cases, seniors with a dual diagnosis require inpatient care
- Once a senior has recovered from health issues, attention turns to relapse prevention
What is a Dual Diagnosis?
While mental health conditions are common in every age group, some groups are more prone to some conditions than others. For instance, people aged between 15-24 experience anxiety, depression, and mood disorders, and people aged between 45-64 are more likely to experience depression due to isolation, as well as conditions associated with dementia and memory loss.
Although life situations and pressures vary in different age groups, people of all ages can experience depression, anxiety, and behavior issues. When someone has an addiction or other medical issue, it is called a dual diagnosis. This is a more complex and difficult situation because the medical issue or addiction can exacerbate the mental health condition.
Mental Health in Older Adults
Older adults experience many of the same mental health conditions as younger people, and many of them have lived with their conditions for longer. People over the age of 50 might experience a range of anxiety issues such as social anxiety, general anxiety, and panic disorders. There is a high chance they will also experience depression in decades to come.
Along with the general mental health conditions that most people experience, older adults also have to contend with the loss of their physical attributes: eyesight, hearing, and mobility. Chances are they will be more isolated than younger people, increasing the chances of depression, and they are more likely to experience memory loss that can increase anxiety.
Substance Use Disorder
Older people might be wiser, but unfortunately, they are not immune from common struggles with addiction. Addiction to drugs and alcohol is not only an issue for young people; it affects people of any age. When older adults have a substance use disorder, they must also manage the challenges of their later years, such as common mental health issues and mobility issues.
Substance use disorder is a treatable condition, but it is also a chronic condition in the sense that it never really goes away. Some managing an addiction can relapse at any age, even after years of sobriety—this is often the case with older adults who might turn again to their addiction due to the stress of later life. Addiction can then fuel the other challenges faced by older adults.
Additional Challenges for Seniors
Seniors face more challenges to their health and well-being than any other age group, but we tend to overlook the mental health needs of older adults. The elderly might dismiss their mental health needs to avoid becoming a burden to other people, or they might regard their physical health as more important. However, a holistic approach is needed to support their overall health.
As well as anxiety, depression, and mood disorders faced by every age group, seniors must also contend with a loss of mobility, a loss of physical ability, chronic pain, cognitive challenges, and health conditions that require daily medication. On top of all of this, older people are more likely to be triggered into depression due to bereavement and their socioeconomic conditions.
Treatment for Dual Diagnosis
A dual diagnosis in an older person is a serious situation that requires swift and professional action to resolve. Once a senior has received a dual diagnosis, considering outpatient treatment can positively impact their ability to manage their normal day-to-day activities and routines. A dual diagnosis requires careful medical attention to sort through the issues and treat patients on an individual basis, resolving underlying conditions. If more attentive monitoring is necessary for severe cases of dual diagnosis, specialists may recommend inpatient care for their patients.
Older people may not be as resilient to withdrawal symptoms as younger people, which can be distressing and dangerous for them. When a senior with dual diagnosis has successfully completed their detox, attention turns to relapse prevention. Every situation is unique, and it’s important for medical staff to understand the triggers for relapse in order to find a suitable treatment. Treatments in older adults tend to be different from younger people; seniors might prefer one-to-one therapy instead of group therapy, for instance.
At Alvarado Parkway Institute, we specialize in treating seniors with a dual diagnosis and substance use disorder with many successful outpatient and inpatient programs. Although some seniors do require more extensive care in the form of inpatient treatment, outpatient care is the appropriate level of care for most seniors with a dual diagnosis. Our specialists evaluate each patient individually to provide the most successful and lasting form of treatment to bolster their independence for as long as possible.
A Program Right for You
Dual diagnosis is crucial to diagnose for the health and safety of older adults. When someone has a mental health condition like depression brought on by bereavement, it might also trigger an underlying substance use issue. Needless to say, one fuels the other, leading to poor health and well-being in the best case and suicide in the worst. A dual diagnosis program is the best option.
A dual diagnosis program aims to develop a plan of action that is suited to their personalities and lifestyles. The majority of older adults with a psychiatric illness coupled with a substance use disorder will require some form of treatment. Find out more about our medical approaches and clinical care by visiting Alvarado Parkway Institute today.
