Don’t Overlook the Needs of Older People

NICAS established the first dedicated addiction treatment service for older people in 1997. In 2010, it remains one of only two dedicated treatment services for older people in Northern Ireland. NICAS’s Older Persons Addiction Service is based on best practice and published evidence on what works best for older people. As people are living longer, government statistics have stated that older people are now drinking more than ever before. NICAS believes that older people’s addiction services should have a higher priority for funding. NICAS Director Dr. Claire Armstrong said:

“Older people often have very different needs from younger people in terms of addiction treatment. The NICAS Service for Older People recognises this and develops a treatment programme tailored to meet the person’s needs, delivered by professional social workers. Around half of our older clients involve their partners and families in their treatment programme, which can be a key to success for many people. Older people have many different issues that can impact on their drinking or drug use which differ from other age groups. Crucially, NICAS gives the client the choice of having the treatment sessions in their own home and around 90% of clients take up this option. We would like to see addiction in older people being a higher priority for funders and service commissioners.”