Objective: The presenters, both of nursing backgrounds, aim to give a broad overview of current intervention strategies employed in the care of older persons with both mental health and co-occurring addiction problems (specifically alcohol, canabis and cocaine).
Design: Identification of drug use and abuse during routine psychiatric intake processes will be discussed, including screening tools used in the presenters' outpatient service. Issues related to the nursing management of withdrawal in clients with co-existing psychiatric and medical problems will also be examined. Service gaps, and future training of professionals in the field, along with their implications for service delivery, will round out the presentation.
Identification: Case-finding, intake/screening and outreach practices employed in a psychogeriatric outpatient service of large teaching hospital in Toronto, Canada.
Materials and Methods: Literature review, assessment procedures and treatment protocols.
Results: The work of the authors has shown that more age-based treatment interventions for older persons with both addiction and mental health problems are required. One-size-fits-all approaches are not realistic.
Conclusion: It behooves those of us in the current service delivery system to advocate for more integrated treatment options for our seniors who suffer from both mental health and co-occurring addiction problems.
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