SENIOR RECOVERY PROGRAM

AT SENIOR RECOVERY PROGRAM, WE BELIEVE WHOLE-HEARTEDLY THAT A PERSON'S GOLDEN YEARS ARE WORTH RECOVERING. WE'VE SEEN INSPIRING TRANSFORMATIONS, THOUSANDS OF TIMES, AMONG THOSE STRUGGLING WITH ALCOHOLISM OR CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY PROBLEMS SEEMINGLY TOO LATE IN LIFE FOR CHANGE.WE'VE FOUND, WITH THE PROPER CARE AND ADJUSTMENTS TO TRADITIONAL 12 STEP PROGRAMS, THE FALSE ADAGES AND MYTHS RELATED TO ADDICTION AMONG OLDER ADULTS CAN BE OVERCOME. HOPE AND HAPPINESS NEED NOT BE EXCLUSIVE REALMS OF THE YOUNG.SENIOR RECOVERY PROGRAM IS THE FIRST PROVIDER OF THESE SERVICES IN THE NATION (SINCE 1971). IT IS THE ONLY ALCOHOL AND CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY PROGRAM EXCLUSIVELY FOR SENIORS IN THE TWIN CITIES OF MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA THAT CONFORM TO THE LANDMARK FEDERAL TREATMENT PROTOCOLS FOR "SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG OLDER ADULTS," FIRST PUBLISHED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IN 1998. THESE PROTOCOLS INCORPORATE CAREFULLY DESIGNED APPROACHES OF INTERVENTION, COUNSELING, HOME VISITS AND PEER SUPPORT TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF SENIORS EXPERIENCING LIFE-THREATENING SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS. CRITICAL NEEDS ADDRESSED BY THE SENIOR RECOVERY PROGRAM INCLUDE RECOGNIZING GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES (IN TERMS OF CULTURE, VALUES, DRUG USE PATTERNS, ETC.) AND COMMON HEALTH OR OTHER MEDICAL ISSUES OF THE ELDERLY THAT MAY BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. IN ADDITION, ITS PROGRAMS RECOGNIZE THE DEVASTATING ISOLATION THAT OFTEN DERIVES FROM THE LOSS OF A SUPPORTIVE EXTENDED FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND DIMINISHED ABILITIES TO TRANSPORT THEMSELVES.THE PROGRAM PROVIDED SERVICES TO BETWEEN 400 AND 550 INDIVIDUALS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: OUT PATIENT TREATMENT, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, CONTINUING CARE, AND INTERVENTIONS. INDIVIDUALS WERE IDENTIFIED FOR EVALUATIONS/ASSESSMENTS AND ATTENDED SOBER SUPPORT GROUPS. THE PROGRAM ALSO PLANNED AND HELD SOCIAL FUNCTIONS. TRANSPORTATION WAS PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEER DRIVERS. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH IN-HOME, IN-OFFICE AND PHONE VISITS. RECOVERING SENIORS MAY PARTICIPATE IN ONE OR MORE SPECIALIZED PROGRAM AREAS INCLUDING: TREATMENT, AA MEETINGS, AL ANON MEETINGS, HOME VISITS, SOCIAL SERVICE REFERRALS, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND MORE.SENIOR RECOVERY PROGRAM STAFF OFTEN WORK CLOSELY WITH FAMILY MEMBERS OF PARTICIPANTS TO PROVIDE HELP IN THE AREAS OF COUNSELING, EDUCATION, AND REFERRAL TO SOCIAL SERVICES. ITS PROGRAMS ARE NOT GENDER SPECIFIC AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION AMONG MEMBERS OF ALL RACIAL AND ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS.