The Impact of the Opioid Epidemic on the Aging Services Network and the Older Adults They Serve | NCOA

The Impact of the Opioid Epidemic on the Aging Services Network and the Older Adults They Serve | NCOA

Impact of opioid use on older adults

In an assessment of the effects of the opioid crisis on elders, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) found that only about 1 in 4 (or 28%) of the care providers who responded routinely screen for substance misuse among the elders they serve.

In their assessment report, The Impact of the Opioid Epidemic on the Aging Services Network and the Older Adults They Serve, NCOA explores the impact of the opioid crisis for elders based on survey results from over 200 community-based organizations that serve elders.   They found that the opioid crisis significantly affects elders' quality of life through related health and financial challenges. In the report, NCOA reviews: current efforts to address these challenges resources to help elders through these challenges recommendations for screening elders for opioid misuse