Workshop Summary Report - Best Practices - Treatment and Rehabilitation for Seniors with Substance Use Problems, March 6 and 7, 2003

Structure of Workshop

The workshop was structured to facilitate a high level of discussion and exchange and was designed around four topic areas:

• Age Specific Programming
• Informal Caregivers: Family and Peer Involvement
• Treatment Interventions
• Peer Co-leadership in Treatment Groups

In consultation with Federal/Provincial/Territorial (FPT) Committee on Alcohol and Other Drug Issues, Health Canada identified speakers to address the four topic areas. Each speaker selected a topic and presented on his/her experience in the field of treatment and rehabilitation for seniors with substance use problems. The presentations raised key issues and served as starting points for discussions.

Group exercises allowing participants to further discuss and exchange information on the issues presented followed each presentation.

On behalf of the workshop participants, Health Canada would like to thank the following speakers for their presentation.

• Betty MacGregor, Manager, Lifestyle Enrichment for Senior Adults (LESA) program, Ottawa, Ontario - presented on Age Specific Programming
  
  
• Denise Bradshaw, Executive Director of the Seniors Well Aware Program (SWAP), Vancouver, British Columbia - presented on Informal Caregiver: Family and Peer Involvement
  
  
• Margaret Flower, Clinical Coordinator, Older Persons Unique Solutions (OPUS-55), Toronto, Ontario - presented on Treatment Intervention
  
  
• Deb Kostyk, Prevention and Education Consultant, Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba - presented on Peer Co-leadership in Treatment Groups