Risk Factors
This life event significantly increases risk for both substance misuse and suicide in older adults.
What is bereavement/grief and loss?
Frequent falls, especially in the evening, may indicate this underlying issue.
What is alcohol misuse?
This commonly used substance is often underreported by older adults but contributes to falls and sleep issues.
What is alcohol?
This group has the highest suicide rate in the U.S.
Who are older adults - especially older men?
This is the strongest predictor of illicit drug use in older adults.
What is prior substance use history?
Confusion, drowsiness, and "feeling foggy" may result from this medication-related issue.
What is polypharmacy or medication interaction?
This class of medications, often used for anxiety, is high risk when combined with opioids.
What are benzodiazepines?
This screening should be a routine part of every social work/health care assessment of older adults in every setting.
What is a depression screening?
This social factor often leads to both alcohol misuse and increased suicide risk.
What is social isolation.
These symptoms overlap between depression and substance misuse, making diagnosis difficult.
What are sleep disturbances, low energy, and withdrawal?
Taking multiple medications from different providers increases risk for this dangerous condition.
What is polypharmacy?
Before retirement, helping older adults plan and develop this is essential in preventing the development of depression or social isolation.
What are leisure activities?
This physical condition commonly contributes to prescription drug misuse in older adults.
What is chronic pain?
Fluctuating cognition and sedation in an older adult may suggest this condition rather than dementia?
What is substance-induced delirium or medication effect?
Executive director and CEO of Project Lazarus in North Carolina; said to have seen situations of seniors selling their medications, mainly through their grandchildren.
Who is Fred Brason II?
Despite the availability of safe and effective treatments, late-life mood disorders remain a large problem, what might be the reason?
The public sees depression and suicide as normal aspects of aging.