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Chemical Dependency in the Elderly: Identification Phase

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

William R. Jacyk
Affiliation:
St. Boniface General Hospital
Ellen Tabisz
Affiliation:
St. Boniface General Hospital
Mark Badger
Affiliation:
St. Boniface General Hospital
Don Fuchs
Affiliation:
University of Manitoba

Abstract

Chemical dependency in the elderly has been identified by practitioners as a serious and growing problem. This article reports on the Elders Health Program, a research and demonstration project aimed at the problem of providing appropriate services for the chemically dependent senior. It describes the development of the screening process and presents the screening tools used as part of the identification strategy. In addition, it presents the results of the epidemiological data gathered using these screening tools. Finally, the article discusses the implications of the identification strategy for intervention, treatment, and further research as identified by the project research team.

Résumé

Selon les praticiens, la dépendence sur les produits chimiques chez les aînés est un problème sérieux qui va en s'aggravant. Cet article présente un compte rendu du programme Les aînés en santé, un programme pilote conçu pour étudier les problémes de conception de services à l'intention des aînés qui souffrent de dépendence envers les drogues. Le processus et les outils de sélection utilisés pour la stratégie de dépistage sont présentés. De plus, les résultats récents de l'analyse des données épidémiologiques recueillies à l'aide de ces outils de sélection sont mentionnés. Finalement, les conséquences de cette stratégie d'identification pour l'intervention, le traitement et les futures études de recherche sont examinées.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1991

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