section 1. Family responses to addicted older adults
Addiction isn't one of life's last pleasures
A few things you should know
Wrong thinking blocks right action
Alcoholism accelerates aging - The older adult's addiction affects the health of the spouse (and anyone else closely involved)
When helping becomes enabling
Ignoring the problem can preserve the problem
section 2. Alcohol, prescription drugs, and addiction
Chemical dependency is a disease
Evidence that alcoholism is genetic
Alcoholism begins at any age
Identifying alcoholism and prescription drug abuse
Ways older adults misuse medications
Addiction to prescription drugs
Alcohol and the older woman
section 3. How to help an addicted older adult
A self-preserving disease
Different worldviews
Start with a talk
A conversation with an addicted older adult
Involving the family physician
Take advantage of a crisis
Join hand s
Forget what you think you know
Actual intervention letters
learn about family intervention
Plan, plan, plan
A dramatization of an intervention
Another ending
section 4. Understanding treatment for older adults
What exactly is treatment
Special treatment needs of older adults
A tour of an older adult treatment program
Groups designed for older adults
section 5. Issues in early recovery
Make decisions before treatment ends
Grief and loss
Living life sober
section 6. Resources
Older adult treatment centers
Twelve step organizations
Internet twelve step meetings
Recovery resources
Resources on aging
Books and publications
Videos
Self-quizzes.