Rehab for Seniors in Tennessee
Socio Economic issues are often tied to an increase in substance misuse.
For example, in parts of Tennessee and Virginia, many seniors are considered
at risk of developing substance use issues due to poverty, isolation in
rural areas, lack of transportation, and lack of education.[3]
For all older adults,
trauma and age-related concerns add to the risks of developing substance use disorders.[1]
Financial issues,
family stress, losing loved ones, and multiple health issues simply due to old age can lead to
depression and other mental health conditions that increase the risk of developing
an addiction.
Since one-fifth of Tennessee’s adult population includes seniors,
chronic health issues and how they relate to addiction are a growing concern
for the state’s health officials.[4] On top of all that, older adults
tend to use triple the amount of
prescription medications that younger people do. This alone puts senior citizens at a greater risk
of developing addiction to prescription drugs than their younger counterparts.[5]
The Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability has several initiatives
to help make resources easier for seniors to access, including increasing
the amount of addiction treatment and education on substance misuse risks.[6]
Addiction treatment facilities are also trying to help with these initiatives
by offering specialized rehab for seniors in Tennessee.
Options for Rehab for Seniors
Addiction treatment facilities in Tennessee understand that seniors face
a unique set of risks and challenges when it comes to addiction. Tennessee
addiction treatment facilities also understand that seniors face some
potential barriers to treatment. These potential barriers include matters
such as living in rural areas and having limited mobility.
Fortunately, there are plenty of
addiction treatment resources now that help address these issues and make rehab for seniors
more accessible. As a result, seniors can take advantage of the following
addiction treatment programs.
Medical Detox
The first step to overcoming addiction is almost always
medical detox. Medical detox is detox program at facilities where there are physicians
and medical staff on standby.
The reason why it’s so important for all individuals detoxing from
substances, in particular, those that are seniors, to attend detox at
a medical detox facility is so that there are doctors there to assist
if anything goes wrong. Also, only at medical detox facilities can detox
patients receive medication-assisted treatment to help them manage severe
withdrawal symptoms. This is huge as many of the withdrawal symptoms to
substances can be deadly.
During detox, the goal is to help the body naturally rid itself of all
toxic substances. Without supervision or the right medications to help
make detox safer, people are more likely to relapse and use substances
again and possibly overdose. Thus, every individual looking to attend
addiction treatment, especially those that are senior citizens, should
first receive professional detox services at a medical detox facility
or rehab facility like
Grace Land Recovery.
Outpatient Program
Outpatient program (OP) treatment is addiction treatment that occurs at a rehab facility for
approximately a couple of hours a day, a couple of days a week. All outpatient
forms of addiction treatment don’t require their patients to live
in rehab facilities while receiving care. Therefore, outpatient program
patients can live in their own homes and essentially live normal lives
when not at rehab. People who have a lower risk of relapse and those who
cannot travel to a facility every day are often good candidates for this
treatment structure. Grace Land Recovery offers outpatient program rehab
for seniors.
Intensive Outpatient Program
People whose needs are greater than what a standard outpatient program
offers may go through
intensive outpatient program (IOP) treatment. Just like all forms of outpatient addiction treatment,
IOP patients don’t have to live in rehab facilities while receiving care.
Intensive outpatient program sessions usually last around a few hours a
day and occur around a few days each week. Rehab for seniors that are
IOPs are for older adults with moderate level addictions. Seniors can
receive intensive outpatient program treatment at here at Grace Land as well.
Partial Hospitalization Program
A
partial hospitalization program (PHP) is better for people who have a higher risk of relapse as it’s
the most intensive form of outpatient addiction treatment. Many partial
hospitalization programs involve five to seven sessions each week that
last around five to eight hours. Therefore, seniors that plan to attend
PHP treatment should make sure that they can afford to spend their entire
days in treatment. If so, Grace Land offers quality PHP rehab for seniors.
Case Management
Another addiction treatment service that we offer here at Grace Land is
case management. Case managers can act as advocates for seniors who need addiction treatment.
This is because, during the course of treatment, case managers can oversee
care plans and ensure that seniors receive the care that they need.
Therefore, if a senior experiences hardships that make the risk of relapse
higher, it helps to communicate that to his or her case manager. The case
manager can then relay the concerns to staff at the senior’s treatment
facility so that a care plan can be created that fits the changing needs
of the senior.
Holistic Treatment
Holistic rehab for seniors is for older adults who prefer a more natural approach to
addiction treatment. Designed to treat the mind, body, and soul, holistic
treatment programs often include activities such as exercise, yoga, meditation,
acupuncture, massage, and more.
Although holistic treatments don’t replace conventional addiction
treatments, they help rehab patients improve their overall well-being.
This, in turn, reduces the chances of patients relapsing. We here at Grace
Land offer holistic forms of treatment for those that are interested.
Telehealth Treatment
Telehealth treatment is rehab that occurs virtually. Seniors who choose to take advantage of
telehealth treatment still have access to qualified counselors and medical
professionals.
Telehealth addiction treatment is a good option for seniors with limited
mobility or poor physical health. Also, telehealth treatment is helpful
for seniors who live in rural areas and lack adequate transportation.
Grace Land offers telehealth treatment.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Dual diagnosis treatment is an approach that addresses two issues simultaneously. This form of treatment
is especially effective for people who suffer from addiction and a co-occurring
mental health disorder. For example, a person who suffers from depression
and misuses stimulants can benefit from dual diagnosis treatment.
Treating both issues in a dual diagnosis is critical since each issue within
a dual diagnosis often acts as a trigger for the other issue within a
dual diagnosis. Therefore, someone who doesn’t receive adequate
treatment for depression while receiving addiction treatment may be more
likely to relapse.
Some people also develop a mental health condition after they start using
a substance. For example, a person who uses pain pills after surgery may
develop an addiction to those pain pills that spark up that person’s anxiety.
Anxiety and depression are particularly mental illnesses that often co-occur
with substance addictions. In fact, in June of 2020, the CDC and NIH conducted
a survey among American adults. They found that 13% started using substances
or increased their use of them, and more than 30% reported feeling depressed
or anxious.[7] Loneliness, financial concerns, and insufficient diet were
contributing factors, and these are all factors that many seniors face today.
Therapy
Therapy is a part of every treatment program. Depending on individual needs, the
combination of therapy approaches can vary. Counselors often use
cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy to help people identify reasons for behaviors
and modify them. This helps people learn how to manage addiction triggers
and replace bad habits with healthier ones.
Rational emotive behavior therapy helps people understand negative thoughts and question them. There is
also anger management therapy to help people deal with the sources of
anger and find better ways to express themselves.
Experiential therapy involves activity participation to help people develop a healthier sense
of self. Trauma therapy is helpful for people who have gone through traumatic
experiences. It gives them the tools to cope and deal with other stresses
in life. All of these forms of addiction therapy are offered here at Grace
Land Recovery.
All forms of addiction therapy come in an individual, group, and family
therapy structure.
Individual therapy focuses on the effects the addiction has on the individual. Family therapy
explores the effects of the addiction on the entire family and individual members.
Group therapy includes others with addiction struggles. During this therapy, participants
share their thoughts, struggles, and suggestions with one another.
Addiction Treatment for Seniors in Tennessee
If you’re looking for treatment options for yourself or a loved one,
Grace Land Recovery is here to help. Grace Land Recovery is a dual diagnosis
treatment center. Thus we specialize in treating different substance addictions
and their co-occurring mental illnesses.
Our rehab facility also offers specialized rehab programs for people in
different stages of life. In fact, we offer rehab for seniors. Thus, older
adults that are looking to overcome addiction can receive help at our
treatment center.
Here at Grace Land Recovery, we customize treatment plans to fit the individual
needs of seniors and provide compassionate support for the start of every
person’s recovery journey. By providing comprehensive care and education,
we equip our patients with the tools to beat the cycle of addiction and
any co-occurring mental illness that they may be suffering from.
To learn more about Grace Land Recovery and our treatment programs,
contact us today!
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