Why Older Adults With Addictions Fare Better in Age-Tailored Rehab

The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's center in Naples, Fla., is the sole rehab location to support an older-adult program for addiction, reports Next Avenue . Executive Director Brenda Iliff says seniors, especially baby boomers, are becoming more receptive to outpatient rehab programs. Naples resident Paul Heflin admits senior adults tend to be more communal in peer-group settings. The growing incidence of addiction among 60-and-older or even 50-and-older people is driven by a combination of factors, including: the free time many retirees have, easy access to alcohol at older-adult living communities, grief from death or divorce, and a lack of purpose. Age-related metabolic changes also can contribute to addiction, and the addition of anti-anxiety medication can make things worse. Nevertheless, older men and women are usually more amenable to rehab. Iliff adds that boomers who have come to Hazelden have shown an increased willingness to discuss their problems in its tailored program.