Substance Misuse and Family Involvement With an Older Adult Teaching Module
This video illustrates the challenges of interviewing, plus alcohol and other drug abuse screening with a client in the presence of a protective family member. The video is the initial interview with the Short MAST-G questions integrated into the interview.
The symptoms demonstrated are: the client’s report of frequent use of alcohol, blackouts, and spending most of income on alcohol and cigarettes; and the family member‘s efforts to divert the social worker’s attention away from questions about alcohol use and to minimize alcohol-related problems. This interview shows how families can be either a help or a hindrance in the screening or assessment process. Teaching points, evaluation tools, discussion questions, and resources are offered. A script of the video is provided.
Advanced Competencies Addressed in This Module:
- Ability to engage, maintain rapport, and sustain effective working relationships with a wide range of older adults including those with behavior problems, mental illness, or dementia.
- Understanding of how to conduct assessment and intervention strategies for substance/drug/alcohol abuse in later life.
- Mediation of situations with problem behaviors that involve family members.
- Application of concepts, theories, and research of biological, psychological, and social aging to social work assessment and intervention.