{"id":9412,"date":"2019-04-12T19:39:07","date_gmt":"2019-04-12T19:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.salushomecare.com\/los-angeles\/?p=9412"},"modified":"2020-08-20T21:00:45","modified_gmt":"2020-08-20T21:00:45","slug":"opioid-addictions-and-the-elderly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salushomecare.com\/los-angeles\/blog\/opioid-addictions-and-the-elderly\/","title":{"rendered":"Opioid Addictions and The Elderly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Pain<\/a> is a primary reason why many seniors seeks medical attention. In fact, the National Institute of Health states it\u2019s a more common condition than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether pain is a chronic condition in and of itself or the\nresult of a recent surgery, opioids are often prescribed to help seniors better\nmanage it and regain their quality of life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An analysis of government data shows more than 500,000 Medicare recipients received high doses of opioids in 2016, with the average dose exceeding manufacturer\u2019s recommendations. Seniors are at an especially high risk of becoming dependent on opioids long term because their bodies typically metabolize medications at a much slower rate than their younger counterparts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cautious Use of Opioids for Seniors <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Wu, the Assistant Director at UCLA\u2019s Comprehensive Pain Center in Los Angeles<\/a>, believes opioids can be effective pain killers, but she suggests doctors use some caution when prescribing them because a senior\u2019s body can become dependent on and tolerant of the medications quite quickly. Her recommendations include using multimodal pain management instead, which includes a combination of muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory medications. This program has less risk of side effects and is often just as effective as opioid treatments. As a family caregiver, it\u2019s important to talk to your loved one’s doctor before treatment begins in order to see if an alternative path to managing pain might be the better approach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natural Pain Relief for Seniors <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some seniors can avoid needing to take opioids by turning to natural pain relievers instead. Physical therapy, massage, heat therapy, meditation and other relaxation techniques or self-hypnosis are a few examples. In some cases, these treatments compliment medical interventions, and in other cases, they are effective on their own. It is important to never take a non-medical approach and stop taking medications without first consulting with a medical professional. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warning Signs of Opioid Dependency <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your senior loved one has been prescribed opioid treatments, how can you tell if they might potentially be addicted? The University of Michigan<\/a> suggests watching for these signs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n