1. ELDER SUBSTANCE ABUSE Nguyet T. Chau Boston College, William F. Connell School of Nursing Keys to Inclusive Leadership in Nursing (KILN)

2. Laboure Center  Location: South Boston  Mission: To build communities, promote family life, and enhance human dignity by providing quality services to meet the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals and families of all faiths and beliefs.  Services  Basic Needs Service  Family Intervention  TEAM  Youth Tutoring Youth  Pregnancy Counseling  Elder Social Services  Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide Training  Visiting Nurses Services

3. Mentoring Experience  Priscilla Greene  Registered Nurse  Masters in Nursing  VNS Program Director  Community Project  Discussion on topics that effect VNS patient population Elder Substance Abuse Hoarding Home Safety Diabetes Management  Plan  Implementation

4. Addictions in the Elderly  Addictions in the elderly is considered a hidden epidemic  Alcoholism “Hardy survivors” Late onset  Nicotine addiction  Prescription drugs Valium, Xanax, Halcion Benzodiazepines

5. Barriers to Receiving Treatment  Substance Abuser  Denial  Anticipatory/Relief oriented beliefs  Shame and guilt  Family and Friends  Rationalization  Enablers  Healthcare Provider  Lack of awareness  Embarrassment or fear of confrontation  Stereotyping

6. Nursing Role  Primary Prevention  Education  Secondary Prevention  Health Screenings  Tertiary Prevention  Rehabilitation

7. Community Health Project  Goal  To develop a screening tool that can identify elder substance abuse in the population of South Boston  Task  Research Screening tools specific to Substance being used Geriatric population Community resources  Create brochures  Generate interest

8. References  Aging in Canada. (2004). Alcohol and Seniors Barriers to Receiving Help. Retrieved from http://www.agingincanada.ca/Seniors%20Alcohol/1g3b.htm  American Family Physician. (2000). Alcoholism in the Elderly. Retrieved from http:// www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0315/p1710.html  Colorado Coalition for Elder Rights and Abuse Prevention. (2011). Substance Abuse Among Older Adults: An Invisible Epidemic. Retrieved from http:// www.ccerap.org/index.php/newsletter-and-archive/newsletter-archive  Institute of Alcohol Studies. (2010). Alcohol and the Elderly. Retrieved from http://www.ias.org.uk/resources/factsheets/elderly.pdf  National Institute of Drug Abuse. (2011). NIDA Info Facts: Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction. Retrieved from http://drugabuse.gov/infofacts/ understand.html  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services. (2008). The Impact of Substance Use and Abuse by the Elderly: The Next 20 to 30 years. Retrieved from: http:// www.samhsa.gov/data/Aging/chap1.htm