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Show How Many Davis Seniors Have Drinking Problems By TOM BUSSELBERG FARMINGTON - It's estimated esti-mated one-third of the nation's elderly have a drug or drink-ing-related problem. MANY OF Davis County's 11,000 over age 60 may also have that problem but it's hard for agencies interested in assisting them to determine that, the Council on Aging was told, last week, as Board Member Mem-ber Stan Fillmore, who administers admi-nisters the south branch mental men-tal health office in Bountiful, said the drug and alcohol program prog-ram is "continually becoming a bigger program because of demand." But that agency doesn't have sufficient staff to go beyond providing required services. That means unless potential cases with problems are referred, refer-red, mental health authorities aren't aware of a particular need, he emphasized. THE SUBJECT was introduced intro-duced as he explained the new plan being organized for education edu-cation and prevention programs, prog-rams, beefed up with additional addition-al funds through the new beer tax approved by the legislature last spring. Explaining mental health operates an alcohol rehabilitation rehabilita-tion center in Clearfield for those attempting to "get off' the habit and work at a regular job while living in a somewhat protected environment, he said and the residential social detoxification facility in Layton is also maintained for those not needing hospitalization hospitaliza-tion but requiring attention beyond what could be provided pro-vided in their own homes. "PART OF the reason mental men-tal health has become inundated, inun-dated, is because the demand is there. We're not blasting the (word around). The judges are ordering us to do counseling. The legal system is finding those needing treatment such as through police stoping vehicle vehi-cle suspects. "But we're finding out the seniors who are drinking aren't driving--we need to find them," Mr. Fillmore said, noting not-ing that while it's good they're not attempting to drive that eliminates eli-minates a means to find their problem. "I THINK the council (on aging) can provide input--that's an ideal case for a feeling person" to assist someone with such a problem, he said. Often, though, it's hard to get seniors involved in any sort of program, either at a senior citizen center or through mental men-tal health, with alternatives specialist Marie Titus recalling the case of one woman who couldn't move about her home, much less attend a center. MR. FILLMORE emphasized empha-sized mental health programs operate on a voluntary basis-the basis-the individual must want help. "The only way we can keep them involuntarily is for a judge to demand they be kept there. They usually don't need hospitalization but they do need detoxification-a friend there, and counseling." Under the legal system now set up, a suspect can either be taken to jail or to the residen-tial residen-tial treatment facility in Layton, Mr. Fillmore said. adding, "We can't keep them there against their will." BILL MARION, Council Nutrition director, said he was told by an area justice of the peace that if a senior is "real bad, we put him in jail, but ordinarily we send them home." They have the attitude they don't know what to do with them. "When we'd ask mental health they'd say, 'We can't help them.' We should have a program" set up, Mr. Marion said. "No matter what age they are, they should be helped." APPARENTLY other ages are given treatment, either forced or voluntary, Mrs. Johnson said, but not the elderly. "Most of the elderly (with problems) are closet drinkers. I'm concerned we're not getting get-ting them and treating them," Mr. Fillmore said. "The police are confining everybody under 60 but apparently they're not willing to make (arrests for elderly). We as a council have a responsibility to find and help those get treatment." "WE USUALLY pick up (those with problems) through home meals or the alternatives program," for example, Mrs. Johnson said, noting "there's a problem in all the (elderly) housing projects. They end up getting evicted" because management man-agement isn't geared for such situations. She then added, "I don't know what the answer is. It's a pitiful group." REFERRALS must be initiated initi-ated to at least provide one contact for those with a problem, prob-lem, Mr. Fillmore stressed, adding another staffer will be needed to handle the drug-alcohol drug-alcohol progiam. "We need more referals-even if they're not cooperative, at least we should make one contact. "We've got the program right here. We've got to meet their needs," Mr. Fillmore said adding, "We've got to meet some of their other needs to get them to quit." |
