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01/30/2024
3 min read
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Sober Senior Living Helps Older People In Recovery Stay Strong

What is sober senior living? Like anyone else, seniors in their 50s, 60s, and beyond can face unique challenges when getting sober. Sobriety can be difficult when you are retired and have a lot of changes going on around you in life. For many people, alcohol or other substances can provide a false sense of comfort or ward off loneliness. At the same time, drugs and alcohol are more likely to cause complications in older people. Getting and staying sober, however, is possible at any age. Seniors and their families may want to choose a sober living home that makes things easier as they age.

What Should Sober Senior Living Include?

While sober senior living is a relatively new concept, many people of retirement age may also have specific considerations and needs due to their age and life circumstances. Getting sober doesn’t have to add to the challenges of living day-to-day. Here are some of the special needs seniors might have when seeking sobriety:

  • Physical Health: Seniors often have age-related health concerns, such as chronic medical conditions, prescription medication use, or frailty. Healthcare professionals who understand these issues and can provide appropriate detox and treatment. It’s also crucial for employees to understand that many older people who use drugs or drink may be masking or self-medicating health or mental health conditions.
  • Medication Interactions: Older adults often take multiple medications, some of which can interact with substances of abuse or medications prescribed during treatment. Care providers need to be aware of these interactions and manage them accordingly. Some seniors just getting sober may need help with Medication-Assisted Treatment.
  • Support Systems: Social isolation is common among seniors; many rely on friends and family. Building or maintaining a support network is crucial for their recovery and may require different strategies for older adults. Sober senior living communities can provide access to 12-step meetings and other ways of socializing.
  • Mental Health Supports: Seniors may have unique mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, grief over losing loved ones, or cognitive decline. These factors can complicate addiction and recovery. Access to mental health care is essential.

Sober Senior Living: Nurturing Recovery

Many people who enter treatment at an advanced age may have adult children or grandchildren who rely on them for support or caregiving. The decision to get sober and participate in a sober senior living program can affect the family dynamics and require careful consideration and communication. Family therapy can help everyone understand addiction, learn how to support their loved one and participate in their loved one's recovery.

Typically, seniors may reside in assisted living facilities and may be dependent on these facilities for transportation to and from doctor appointments, recovery groups, and family gatherings. Sober senior living homes often have in-house recovery meetings but can also provide clients transportation to and from appointments and events.

Age-appropriate treatment programs or support groups can help seniors feel less isolated, providing a more relatable and comfortable environment.

Other Considerations for Sober Senior Living Communities

Senior living homes are essential to helping people stay functional and active in their older years. Nothing is one-size-fits-all. Some older adults may experience cognitive impairments like dementia or Alzheimer's, impacting their ability to engage in therapy and follow a treatment plan. Treatment programs need to be adapted to their cognitive abilities. Medication management can help prevent them from taking too much of a medication or drug they have been prescribed. Activities to help people remain active and fit are also usually provided, especially to help seniors socialize.

Understanding cultural and generational factors is crucial to helping seniors transition to sober living.  Seniors may have different beliefs about addiction and recovery than contemporary knowledge. Recognizing and respecting these beliefs is crucial when providing support, even while educating them about the disease model of addiction.

Older adults may have had a more extended history of substance abuse. Their relapse triggers may differ from those of younger individuals. Many seniors use substances to cope with loneliness, boredom, grief, or chronic pain. Identifying and addressing these triggers is vital in relapse prevention.

Seniors often need long-term care and support to maintain sobriety. This may involve regular check-ins with healthcare providers and ongoing therapy or counseling. A sober senior living home has compassionate care workers able to interact with clients and help them get the resources they need to stay healthy and sober.

Learn More About Sober Senior Living Today

Seniors in recovery have unique considerations and needs when seeking sobriety, often related to their health, social support, and life circumstances. Addiction treatment and support can help address these specific challenges. Healthcare professionals, addiction specialists, and support networks can adapt to understand and accommodate these unique needs.

Learn more about what a sober senior living experience can offer by giving us a call. We can talk you through the amenities, support services and other features of our sober living homes meant especially for s

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Mark G
Mark Gladden brings both personal and professional experience to his role as co-founder of Present Moments Recovery. Now in long-term recovery himself after struggling with addiction for years, Mark understands firsthand the challenges men face in achieving and maintaining sobriety. It was this insight, combined with a desire to help others, that led Mark to establish Present Moments Recovery.

Get in Touch with Our Caring Team

We are waiting for your call. Don’t hesitate, pick up the phone and dial 619-363-4767 today.

Your first call will be greeted by one of our intake counselors who will be able to provide information on what program would be appropriate for your situation, as well as information about the process of getting treatment at our facility, if appropriate.

If Present Moments is the right fit for your current situation you will be speaking to Admissions Director Mark Gladden, who will be your guide throughout the process of arranging travel and undergoing an initial detox (if necessary). Mark has been the guide for dozens of men and women who have gotten their lives back by entering treatment at Present Moments. He has earned his reputation as being truly dedicated to the recovery of others. Mark will be the one to ‘show you the ropes’ when it comes to admitting to our facility for treatment

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