Last updated : May 12, 2025
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that over 5,000 U.S. citizens aged 65 and over died of a drug overdose in 2020. Moreover, alcohol-induced causes claimed the lives of 11,616 elderly Americans within the same age range that year. Some may claim that it’s to be expected as the Baby Boomers—the first generation in history to embrace widespread drug abuse—reach their golden years. However, elderly addicts could have formed an addiction later in life.
Some senior adults become addicted to opiates after being treated for pain, for instance; others begin to drink or use drugs to combat loneliness. And, it’s no surprise that that statistic has risen since Covid invaded our lives. Sadly, isolation is a common existence for older adults, and turning to drugs and alcohol to fill the void is an all too common solution in our country. We won’t hesitate to state that it’s a very poor one, however.
Still, family members move away and life is busy! It often gets hard for them to stay in touch for long periods of time. Moreover, elderly friends pass away and that’s another likely reason for depression to set in. Feelings of depression cause some people to completely withdraw from society. Some turn to drugs or alcohol for solace, eventually, finding themselves addicted.
The cause of someone’s addiction is really irrelevant in the big picture though—at any stage of life. However, as people who struggle with addiction grow older, their children sometimes find themselves in need of help caring for them. If that day should come, is an assisted living community or nursing home environment that accommodates elderly addicts an option?
Assisted living doesn’t condone addiction
Assisted living communities offer the elderly maintenance-free housing complete with security. Furthermore, as indicated above, assisted living communities offer older adults a little bit of help. They are capable of living independently for the majority of their day but need assistance completing a few simple tasks.
They include things such as:
- Meals
- Personal care
- Daily grooming
- Housekeeping chores
- Medication management
- Transportation
- Laundry
Elderly addicts are at an increased risk of drugs and alcohol wreaking havoc on their bodies due to the fact that the metabolization process doesn’t happen as quickly as it once did. Depending on the type of drug addiction, long-term abuse can affect the body in a number of ways. This can have a number of effects on someone’s physical and mental health.
They include, but aren’t limited to:
- Higher risk of conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, liver problems, bone conditions
- Memory issues
- Confusion
- Mood disorders
- Increased risk of falling
- Impaired motor skills
- Cognitive issues
It stands to reason that finding a home for an aging parent—who suffers from any of the above conditions brought on by addiction—could cause concern as time drew near. However, assisted living is actually a popular option for elderly adults who suffered addiction problems in the past. Still, it may create a number of challenges that family members should consider before a final decision is made. The key is to thoroughly evaluate potential elder care facilities to ensure they have a track record of both treating specific health issues and effectively managing prescriptions to help avoid addiction and abuse issues. A good source for elder care statistics and data is ElderGuide.com, which aggregates information from numerous government and private sources to help consumers make well-informed decisions for the care of aging loved ones.
Keeping things clear
There is a big difference between welcoming someone into an assisted living community who is recovering from addiction and allowing someone who is caught up in the throes of addiction into the community. It wouldn’t be fair to others living there to even consider that option.
The focus within assisted living environments is to provide residents with general well-being. Understandably, that lifestyle could be threatened if a resident was heavily overcome by addiction. Extreme examples could include elderly addicts who have violent tendencies or delusional behavior that could endanger staff and other residents.
On the other hand, someone who has successfully completed a rehabilitation program would be welcomed into an assisted living community. Actually, the structured environment could prove very beneficial in their recovery process. It’s important to note though that rarely are addiction services, such as counseling, provided as part of the daily regimen. If services are provided, they won’t be as intensive as those provided at a dedicated rehabilitation facility. It’s important to find out ahead of time that any outside drug rehab counselors or therapy providers will be allowed on site.
Due diligence
With story after story permeating the news sources in regard to widespread abuse and neglect in elder care communities, researching your options before placing your loved one in any type of living environment is important. If your loved one struggles with drug or alcohol abuse, there are viable solutions out there. In a world that often doesn’t seem to place the value on our senior citizens that is deserved, don’t quit looking until you find one.
Seniors who struggle with addiction can overcome it. Knowing they’re surrounded with support, from those who assist them with daily tasks as well as those who love them dearly, can make all the difference. A positive outlook goes a long way toward changing one’s life for the better.
No matter how old you are.
