| Statistics show that "10 to 15% of the population | | | | control, optimism, causal analysis, empathy, |
| over 65 suffer from alcoholism," according to | | | | self-efficacy, and reaching out (pp.34-36). Once the |
| Zimberg (1996, p. 45). However, in reviewing available | | | | results are known, each participant knows what |
| research, it appears that most practitioners have | | | | abilities need work and the interactive instruction |
| overlooked alcohol prevention, treatment, and | | | | commences through discussion, role-playing, and |
| maintenance geared specifically for the elderly. Many | | | | exercises created to develop the seven skills. |
| researchers support the idea of special treatment | | | | Each week a new skill would be thoroughly explained, |
| approaches for the elderly, feel the numbers are | | | | discussed and practiced. Homework would be |
| under-reported, and expect the numbers to increase. | | | | assigned and outcomes would be discussed in the |
| Therefore, I have developed a special alcohol | | | | weekly group sessions. According to their research, |
| treatment program, "My Life Matters" (MLM), which | | | | resilience assists in overcoming the obstacles of |
| targets the elderly. | | | | childhood, steering through everyday adversities, |
| Prior to offering this program numerous fundamental | | | | bouncing back from monumental life crises, and |
| issues need to be addressed. Most critically, | | | | reaching out to achieve all that is possible. By |
| depending on the severity of the dependency, | | | | developing the skills needed to build these resiliency |
| detoxification may need to take place. An individual | | | | abilities, the "Stinkin' Thinkin'" as AA calls it or the |
| could not grasp intellectually the foundation of the | | | | typical addictive thinking evolving out of immaturity, |
| MLM treatment while still under the influence or | | | | ego-mania, low frustration tolerance, and the |
| suffering through withdrawal. Also, clinical depression, | | | | necessity for constant immediate satisfaction, could |
| if present, would have a negative influence on ones | | | | be eliminated and replaced with resilient thinking. |
| ability to change, so medication (not benzodiazepines) | | | | Productive, intelligent, successful living could begin |
| may need to be prescribed. | | | | again. |
| MLM is holistic in approach addressing spiritual, | | | | Phase two would be teaching Seligman's (2002) |
| nutritional, physical, emotional, psychosocial, and | | | | Authentic Happiness program. "New research into |
| psychological aspects of the aging individual. The | | | | happiness demonstrates that it can be lastingly |
| program would be presented in a group educational | | | | increased." (p. xii). The Three Paths to Happiness |
| experiential environment. Group approach is essential | | | | would be explained. Self-assessments would be |
| due to the many issues facing the elderly such as, | | | | completed to determine depression and optimism |
| isolation, loss of loved ones, and missing support | | | | levels, followed by the Values In Action (VIA) |
| systems. This format would fill some of that void and | | | | Signature Strengths inventory. Seniors would learn |
| should be an enticement for the individual to return | | | | their top five Signature Strengths and simply knowing |
| and continue the program. A perfect location would | | | | that has been shown to increase self-worth. Seniors |
| be Senior Centers, particularly the ones where people | | | | would perform unique exercises developed to |
| come together for meals. While they would be there | | | | broaden and build those strengths, providing the |
| enjoying a nutritious meal, they could receive the | | | | beginnings of a "life worth living." |
| attention they crave through interactive, educational | | | | As with the resilience training, new exercises would |
| seminars designed to help them understand the | | | | be explained each week, homework assigned, and |
| dynamics of alcoholism, the stresses of aging, how | | | | outcomes discussed in the group. Using these tools |
| these issues are affecting them, and developing new | | | | would provide the participants the opportunity to |
| strategies for overcoming them. | | | | mature in coping skills, realize personal success, and |
| Older adults often experience fear associated with | | | | feel empowered with personal strengths. |
| the stresses of aging, i.e., isolation, loss of loved | | | | 3rd Cornerstone: Interactive group discussion |
| ones, depression, health challenges, death, etc. As | | | | revolving around alcohol abuse and aging issues would |
| President Roosevelt said in his inaugural speech, "the | | | | be facilitated by a Coach specializing in group process |
| only thing we have to fear is fear itself." And without | | | | and alcohol addiction. Since alcoholism is categorized |
| coping skills and strategies to resiliently overcome | | | | as a chronic condition according to the AMA, it would |
| these hurdles, many seniors turn to alcohol's numbing | | | | seem imperative to have continuous treatment |
| effect and become late-onset alcoholics. Once the | | | | available. And yet, according to O'Brien and McClellan |
| destructive alcoholic thinking takes over, it becomes | | | | (1996) most people including physicians approach it as |
| a Catch-22 situation because alcohol exacerbates, | | | | an acute condition like a broken leg when in reality |
| perpetuates, and escalates fear. Consequently, the | | | | "addictive disorders should be considered in the |
| individual can become frozen in fear. If MLM | | | | category with other disorders that require long-term |
| strategies can dissipate that intrapersonal fear the | | | | or life-long treatment" (p. 239). The MLM program |
| possibility exists that the alcohol abuse could simply | | | | provides this recommended ongoing treatment in the |
| melt away. "When life becomes worth living again, | | | | group format. This delivery method provides to the |
| the alcohol problem frequently disappears." (Zimberg, | | | | participants many of the therapeutic factors that |
| 1996, p. 48). | | | | Yalom (2005) enumerates: installation of hope, |
| Current research claims that 50% of individuals | | | | universality, imparting information, altruism, |
| suffering from depression are either drug or alcohol | | | | development of socializing techniques, group |
| dependent. Since the elderly find themselves in high | | | | cohesiveness, imitative behavior, interpersonal |
| risk situations for depression, their susceptibility for | | | | learning, catharsis and existential factors (pp. 1-2). |
| dependence on alcohol is greatly increased. | | | | These factors are beneficial because the participants |
| Determining which one is the causal factor is open to | | | | are alcoholic and because these factors profoundly |
| debate in many lives. Regardless of age, quality of life | | | | support the participants through the challenges of |
| is the issue faced daily by all people. Often family | | | | abstinence and aging. The nature of "group" removes |
| members enable their elders because of not wanting | | | | isolation, permits connection, and fosters the |
| to curtail the one remaining pleasure, but in reality, | | | | development of a new social network, all critical to |
| permitting the problem to pose as the solution. If we | | | | good mental health for the elderly. In addition to the |
| can convince these elders to eliminate their alcohol | | | | discussion of homework, the group is open for |
| abuse, they have an excellent chance to reclaim their | | | | discussion of alcohol and aging issues and concerns. |
| lives and resume having a quality existence. | | | | 4th Cornerstone: Physical/Spiritual Connection will be |
| The My Life Matters program is structured around | | | | introduced through aerobic and anaerobic exercise, |
| "The 4 Cornerstones." 1st Cornerstone: Attendance | | | | yoga, Tai Chi, Qi-gong, meditation, and prayer groups. |
| at AAA (Aging Alcoholic Anonymous) Meetings. This | | | | According to Read and Brown (2003) there is |
| group will be able to accommodate the elderly by | | | | overwhelming evidence to support the benefits of |
| going at a slower pace, speaking more slowly, | | | | exercise on physical and psychological well-being |
| explaining things more clearly. We will request of AA | | | | particularly in the areas of anxiety, depression, and |
| that a group of elderly "old-timers" come together to | | | | self-concept, which are of particular concern when |
| carry on Twelfth Step work in order to form this | | | | considering risk-factors for the elderly. And although |
| new group. The old-timers will chair the meetings and | | | | "a small body of research has examined physical |
| present modeling examples on how meetings | | | | exercise interventions as applied to addictive |
| operate, how people share, what is expected of the | | | | behaviors and has suggested promise for such |
| new members, how to work the steps, etc. Once | | | | interventions, to date ... exercise based interventions |
| the members of AAA begin sharing their own stories, | | | | have rarely been applied to this population" (p. 49). |
| they will begin to heal themselves in the process. | | | | The MLM program will utilize this excellent strategy |
| Although AA is not a religious program, the | | | | for physical and mental health and psychological |
| introduction of a "higher power," or "God as we | | | | well-being. Also, research has found that spiritual |
| understood him" would introduce a spiritual element | | | | attention and concern is the first layer of defense |
| which is part of the 4th Cornerstone of MLM. | | | | against addictive thinking and relapse. This program |
| 2nd Cornerstone: Educational/Interactive Seminars | | | | will shore up against "The Beast" as described in |
| delivered in two phases. The first phase teaches how | | | | Rational Recovery through attention to that "still small |
| to build resilience by mastering the seven skills | | | | voice within." |
| presented in The Resilience Factor (Reivich and | | | | A pilot program for the My Life Matters program will |
| Shatté, 2003). They posit that the "principal | | | | be delivered once funding and sponsorship has been |
| obstacle to tapping into our inner strength lies with | | | | acquired. It could be delivered through senior centers |
| our cognitive ... thinking style" (p. 11). This phase | | | | as part of a grant for low-income seniors or through |
| would begin with each participant taking the 56 item | | | | the Department of Elder Affairs. It could also be |
| RQ test, a self-assessment measuring the seven | | | | delivered in upscale venues for self-pay clients. |
| abilities of resilience: emotional regulation, impulse | | | | |