Substance Use, Mental Health and Gambling Challenges in Older Adults

Responding to Older Adults with Substance Use, Mental Health and Gambling Challenges

Substance use, mental health and gambling problems in older adults can have a variety of causes, including:

• problems in a person's life situation (e.g., stress, poverty, or poor nutrition or housing)
• emotional problems (e.g., abuse or grief)
• physical problems (e.g., stroke or other illness).

An older person may have struggled with an addiction or mental health challenge for many years, or the challenge may have begun more recently.

This chapter describes substance use, mental health and gambling problems and how they affect older adults. It looks at the causes and signs of these problems. It also offers tips to help you talk with the older person and to know when and where to get help.

As you read this chapter, remember that mental health and addiction problems can range from mild to severe. Even a mild problem can affect an older person's quality of life.

Having one problem can also lead to others. For example, someone with depression may use alcohol as a way to help cope with the depression. Often these problems overlap and are linked. You may not be able to tell what is causing a problem, but this chapter will help you better understand the possible causes and how to respond.

In Responding to Older Adults :

1 The Nature of Aging

• Aging myths and facts
• Discussing diversity

2 Substance Use, Mental Health and Gambling Challenges in Older Adults

• Alcohol problems
• Anxiety
• Dementia
• Depression
• Gambling problems
• Medication issues

3 Communication Tools and Techniques

• Extra resources

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