Elder addicts pose a multitude of challenges for any facility and oftentimes result in residents facing contract termination of their living arrangements. Facilities don’t want any excess liabilities and if your loved one is a risk in any way to an employee or resident, they may be sent packing. This may sound harsh, but the facility has a duty to protect its residents and to identify those residents in need of higher levels of care. An addict often presents as a serious fall risk and as you are already likely aware, none of their prescribed medications play well with alcohol. Serious situations outside of the facility’s abilities are ticking timebombs and the outcome is often the same: a hospitalization leading to a loved one being placed in a locked-down secure nursing facility (SNF) versus an open-access assisted living facility (ALF). The difference in the level and quality of care can be stark.
Residents with addictions can be a serious danger to others. In eldercare communities drunken brawls do not result in bruises. They result in broken bones which take months to heal, hospitalizations, or even lawsuits. Even individuals who don’t pick fights can easily fall into a resident who may have balance issues, leading to painful and possibly crippling falls for everyone involved.
We find that facilities identify active substance abusers for psychological intervention and will request a psychologist work with the resident and their family. Since AA/NA meetings are not found in facilities, the psychologist, together with the care team, often work to locate meetings within driving range, however transportation is a difficult challenge. For an individual to attend the needed support meetings, the meetings must take place during the hours that transportation is available, so meeting choices are usually limited. Often psychiatry steps in to prescribe antidepressants and other medications, especially if a resident is experiencing withdrawal effects which do not require immediate hospitalization.
If your loved one is an addict, do not hide that from the care team because it does not take long find out with the first food or grocery delivery. When we know, we can help monitor and help guide. Your care team is not a policing agency, and we cannot prohibit certain behaviors, but we can try to ensure the safety of our staff and other residents. Our team of professionals has heard it all, from the promises to the dealmaking from the addicts in our care. Addiction can be a dominant for in anyone’s life. It doesn’t take long to figure out how those 2-liter bottles of vodka made it into their apartment. If you try to restrict their access, they will either open another hidden source or find someone to bring the substance into the facility.
The best steps are preventative: Prior to moving into an ALF, the individual needs to be hospitalized to dry out with full medical attention. While this is taking place, inquire about meeting schedules and support systems which can help. Make sure to be there: We need you available for family support and to help the care teams. The more you can be involved and stay strong for your loved one, the safer they will be in the facility of their choosing.
