At Any Age, It Does Matter:
Substance Abuse and Older Adults (for Professionals)

Supplements

Residential Rehabilitation

Residential rehabilitation refers to a live-in therapeutic community for detoxification and recovery. It usually consists of group and individual counseling, social activities, and shared responsibility for group instrumental activities of daily living, such as housekeeping. Biological and pharmacological approaches are usually included, with an emphasis on nutrition and self-care.

Residential programs provide a slower paced, more repetitive treatment approach for older patients. Services range from high to low intensity. They can be delivered in specialized and nonspecialized care settings. Specialized settings include:

Nonspecialized settings include:

Specialized rehabilitation programs include those designed for individuals who are cognitively impaired by chronic illness or traumatic injuries. These facilities work well for patients who lack significant social resources, such as family, or have no social network. They also work for people with no mobility to stabilize care, which justifies the expense of this treatment option.

Costs may be a prohibiting factor for many older adults. Medicare generally does not pay for more than a few days for detoxification and stabilization. Older adults with prominent medical or psychiatric complications may be better served in a medical or psychiatric inpatient unit.

<< Previous Page