A significant population that falls through the cracks

I have strived to address the issue of older adults and their families dealing with substance abuse and/or problem gambling in Manitoba over 35 years. Throughout that time, there has been occasional interest and support to create a program or a network to help older adults that are suffering, to support their families intervene, and to provide guidance to professional caregivers; however, never has there been ongoing funding to sustain a permanent program that will address the ongoing need. It consistently falls through the cracks of the key sectors: mental health - because of age intervention tends to be very short term and most programs are for people under age 55; addiction - because of the demands of higher profile issues and that older adults seldom are seen these general population programs (for many reasons related to ageism); health care - because many health care settings do not see their role as addressing addiction issues; aging services - because their tends to be a greater comfort level dealing with issues like transportation, recreation, elder abuse, health and safety - NOT mental illness and/or addiction. I am now in my 60's. I do not have much hope of this complex issue being addressed adequately in my lifetime. It is clear to me that it is stigma of both aging and of addiction that will always get in the way of putting and maintaining a helping hand out to older adults struggling with addiction.