Better Late than Never: Culturally-Responsive Counseling Strategies for Addressing Substance Use in Clients 65 and Older
Information
Date & Time
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Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
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Summarize the prevalence of risky and disordered substance use and addiction in adults 65 and older.
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Describe personal and societal beliefs about older adults and substance use.
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Identify culturally responsive assessment, diagnosis, and treatment strategies to utilize with adults 65 and older experiencing risk or disordered substance use.
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Explain how to introduce the topic of substance use with clients in later life.
Educational Goal
The educational goal of this workshop is for participants to be able to recognize the signs of risk and disordered substance use in adults 65 and older and build confidence in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment strategies.
Description
Despite our profession’s commitment to culturally responsive care across the lifespan, recognizing risky or disordered substance use in adults 65 and older can be difficult (Jaqua et al., 2022). Without considering the risks of substance use, counselors may misinterpret depressed mood, frequent falls, and cognitive changes in this population as age-related, and therefore, expected. The risks related to substance use increase with age and are exacerbated by the prevalence of co-occurring diagnoses and the use of prescription medication. Therefore, increased awareness of the indicators, screening tools, and intervention strategies to serve older adults is needed. In this webinar, after examining personal and societal beliefs about substance use in older adults, participants will discover ways to talk about substance use with their older clients using culturally responsive strategies. Intervention options along with primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention will be presented.
Target Audience
- Counselor
- Marriage & Family Therapist
- Psychologist
- Social Worker
- Substance Use Disorder Professionals
Presenters
Sara W. Bailey, Ph.D. (she/her/hers), is a counselor educator, researcher, collaborator, and counselor with a clinical and research emphasis on issues of adoption, addiction, aging, and andragogy. She believes in and practices defying stereotypes and engaging in radical reflection in community with others. She is the Counselor Education Program Director at the University of Lynchburg and a counselor at Full Life Counseling and Recovery, PLLC. As an educator, Dr. Bailey seeks to demystify content knowledge and present novel material with humor, humility, and ample opportunity for engagement. As a supervisor and mentor, Dr. Bailey recognizes the power of authentic connection and relishes the opportunity to use her passion and life experience to link others with their “why” and support them in their dreams.
Financially Sponsored By
- Association for Adult Development & Aging (AADA)