About the Course
Loneliness, grief, and major life transitions can deeply affect emotional well-being in later life. Retirement, widowhood, declining health, caregiving changes, and social isolation can increase vulnerability to substance use as older adults look for ways to manage pain, stress, boredom, or loss of purpose. This interactive workshop explores how these experiences shape risk and how prevention professionals can respond.
Learning Objectives
1. Examine how loneliness, grief, social isolation, and major life transitions contribute to substance use risk among older adults.
2. Differentiate between loneliness, social isolation, grief, depression, and prolonged grief, and identify warning signs that increase vulnerability.
3. Apply the BRIDGE Framework to support prevention, early intervention, connection, purpose, and wellness among older adults.