of heavy alcohol consumption than their younger counterparts. Experts in the substance abuse services also point out that the special needs of this target population contribute to the complexity of trying to provide substance abuse services for them “In providing substance abuse services to the elderly, the diversity of this population must be recognized, as well as, the many issue they face, including access to treatment, home health care, lack of transportation, respite care, limited financial resources, housing, loss of spouse or significant other, need for a caretaker, homebound, elder abuse, domestic violence, lack of insurance coverage and rising costs of treatment” (Elkin, 1995, PG).
This dissertation will review the literature concerning alcohol-abuse and alcoholism among the elderly. Three main areas of focus will be reviewed: 1) The complexity of geriatric alcohol-abuse and alcoholism compounded by underdetection and undertreatmen
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