Social Support and Other Wellness Strategies for Older Adults

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based on material published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is available as an open-access article. This Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) will most benefit healthcare, behavioral health service, and social service providers who work with older adults (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, alcohol and drug counselors, and peer recovery support specialists). It explains how older adults who misuse substances can beneft from wellness strategies that support relapse prevention, ongoing recovery, and better overall health. The keys to wellness for this group are having strong social networks and participating in health and wellness activities that support recovery. The high prevalence of isolation in older adults who misuse substances can negatively affect cognitive functioning and reduce well-being. Older adults who lack family ties or social networks may fnd maintaining recovery from substance misuse difficult. Healthcare, behavioral health service, and social service providers can help older adults who misuse substances reduce isolation and improve recovery outcomes by promoting broader social networks. Maintaining recovery from substance use can be harder for older adults who have trouble understanding and using health information. It may also be more difficult for those with limited self-management skills (e.g., difficulty engaging in regular exercise, healthy eating, or medication adherence). Medical conditions common in later life can also reduce functioning. Providers can engage older clients in skill-building and wellness activities that will support resilience and overall health while also reducing the likelihood of a return to substance misuse. This course on strategies for maintaining wellness in older adults is designed for clinical social workers, psychologists, professional counselors, nurses, and substance abuse counselors who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop their expertise with maintaining wellness in older adults. The course material includes a literature review of interventions. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing clinical education courses for license renewal. The course is based on a journal article that includes research. It contains statistical analysis and data that some clinicians enjoy reading and others do not. A significant benefit of reading peer reviewed research-based articles for continuing education is that they provide practitioners with the latest findings in their field. Authors: SAMHSA Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding maintaining wellness in older adults. Specifically, a professional will: Describe the importance of social support in promoting and maintaining health in older adults. Identify strategies for promoting wellness in older adults. Recognize targeted resources to support wellness in older adults. Citation: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Social Support and Other Wellness Strategies for Older Adults. Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://store.samhsa.gov.