Out of the Shadows
Uncovering Substance Use and Elder Abuse
Module 3: Substance Use and Other Risk Factors - Page 12 of 16
Diagnosis Difficulties
Practitioners may fail to recognize signs of substance and/or elder abuse. Alcohol problems and diseases and complications of aging, adverse drug reactions, trauma, and elder abuse can all have similar symptoms, including:
- Clouding of the senses
- Disorientation
- Recent memory loss
- Slowed thought process
- Muscle incoordination
- Tremors
- Inflammation of joints
- Gastritis
- Hypertension
- Depression
- Congestive heart disease
- Heart arrhythmias
- Anorexia
- Altered response to stress
- Malnutrition
- Excess excretion of potassium
- Edema
Home | Courses | How to Use | Contact Us
For questions or comments, please visit our Contact Us page.
Last Updated: 8/3/04
SAMHSA is an Agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
