Castle Craig offers residential treatment that encompasses everyone, including drug and alcohol rehab for elderly people and seniors. Today, however, most people relate stronger to the terms ‘older adults’ or ‘those in later life’. Here, we use all phrases interchangeably.
Addiction can affect anyone at any stage in their life. Big events like retirement or bereavement can trigger a change in behaviour that can lead to addiction in the elderly, or older adults. Changes in health can play a part too. If you are navigating addiction in later life, it is important to know that help is available and recovery is possible.
If you or someone you know is living with alcohol or drug addiction, we are here to help.
Our clinic is located within 50 acres of private woodland in the Scottish Borders, combining historic Georgian architecture with modern treatment facilities. Castle Craig has over 37 years of experience, offering a supportive environment where older patients can recover under the care of a multidisciplinary team.
Rehab for seniors
Why drug and alcohol addiction in later life can be different
Alcohol rehab for elderly people or drug treatment for older adults are both more in demand than most people may realise. According to the Drink Wise, Age Well programme, two-thirds of all hospital admissions caused by alcohol occur among people aged over 55, compared to just 3% among those under 25. The NHS spends more on alcohol-related treatment for this age group than any other.
Addiction in older adults can go untreated though, because it is often attributed to other causes. Research published by Cambridge University Press described this as an invisible epidemic in the UK, leading to physical and psychiatric damage.
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Alcohol use in later life
Age UK’s submission to the Commission on Alcohol Harm found that harmful drinking is a growing issue in later life. More people are starting to drink harmfully as they get older, and people who have lived with long-term alcohol use disorder are now living longer. This means the population of older adults with dependencies is growing.
Why does this happen? Life changes that are common in later life can quietly increase how much someone drinks:
- Retirement – the loss of daily structure and purpose
- Bereavement – grief that has nowhere obvious to go
- Chronic pain – alcohol as a way of coping
- Loneliness – social isolation that builds gradually
- Loss of identity – particularly after a career ends
For anyone living with addiction in later life, these pressures can build across years or decades before the pattern becomes visible to themselves or others.
Research by Drink Wise, Age Well, involving more than 16,700 people over 50, found that higher-risk older drinkers are:
- More likely to have a longstanding illness or disability
- More likely to have felt depressed in the past month, and
- Less likely to feel they are coping with the stresses in their life
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Prescription drug dependency in later life
Misuse of prescription medications is the second most common substance use issue in this age group. Older adults are prescribed more medication than any other age group. Research published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology by Bennie et al. (2024) found that more than half of older people across several European countries are prescribed five or more drugs simultaneously. Long-term prescribing of sedatives, sleeping tablets, and anxiety medication can lead to physical dependency without the person ever intending it.
This is key, because it means that it can be easy to miss. If a doctor prescribed it, it can feel like it isn’t possible to then end up as a problem. But dependency is dependency, regardless of how it started.
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Recreational drug use in later life
Research from Cambridge University Press has noted sporadic use of illicit substances among older adults, sometimes linked to influence from younger people in their lives.
Whatever the substance and however the use began, an older adult’s existing medications, physical health, and mental health create a clinical picture that requires different management from a younger patient’s.
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A note on asking for help
For many people in this age group, they grew up in a period of time when addiction was often spoken about as a moral failing rather than a health condition. This can make asking for help feel particularly challenging.
The courage it takes to reach out is the same at 65 as it is at 35. Everyone deserves the same quality of care, and the Castle Craig team won’t ever see you differently.
Contact Castle Craig addiction rehab centre
If you are not sure whether residential treatment is right for you, a free addiction assessment is a good place to start. There is no obligation, and no pressure to commit to anything. Call us on 01721 546 263 or fill in our online form and we will come back to you.
How our medical team supports older adults through rehab
Castle Craig’s clinical team works with older adults who come to treatment with health histories that younger patients often do not have. The sections below explain what that looks like in practice.
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Detox and medication management for older adults
Alcohol detox and safe detox from drugs in later life needs more careful medical management than in younger adults. Drug rehab for the elderly and alcohol rehab for the elderly both carry specific medical considerations that our team is trained to manage. This is not a reason to avoid treatment — it is a reason to make sure it happens with the right support around you.
Research published in 2016 identified why older adults are more vulnerable during withdrawal:
- A reduction in lean body mass means alcohol reaches a higher concentration in the blood
- The liver may process alcohol more slowly, so it stays in the system longer
- The central nervous system is more sensitive to alcohol’s effects
Older adults are also more likely to be taking other medications that could interact with detox.
At Castle Craig, our medical team reviews your full medication history before detox begins. Detox protocols are adjusted to account for what you are already taking. Our medical team monitors you closely throughout and adjusts the protocol if withdrawal becomes difficult to manage.
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Physical health and mobility during drug and alcohol rehab for seniors
Residential rehab can be physically demanding in ways that are not always obvious before arrival. There is structure to each day, movement between buildings, group sessions, and activity-based therapies. For older adults who come to us with reduced mobility, fatigue, or chronic health conditions, our team adjusts the pace and physical demands of the programme accordingly. Risk of falls and cardiovascular monitoring are a standard part of how our nursing team plans care for older adult patients.
At Castle Craig, we take into account the physical realities of each patient. If you have concerns about mobility or a specific health condition, raise them at your assessment. That information shapes how we plan your stay from the start.
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Mental health and emotional wellbeing in later life
Mental health and substance use are closely connected in later life. The World Health Organization reported in 2025 that approximately 14% of adults aged 70 and over live with a mental health condition, and that loneliness and social isolation are key risk factors. Grief, loss of purpose after retirement, and reduced social connection can all feed into — or be made worse by — alcohol or drug use.
Castle Craig specialises in dual diagnosis: treating addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions at the same time. For older adults, this often means addressing depression, anxiety, or grief within the same treatment programme. Our therapists use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and trauma-informed approaches. They work with each patient to understand what is driving their relationship with alcohol or drugs, not just the dependency itself.
“I feel like this experience has been life changing for me, this will help me continue with my sobriety. I couldn’t stop on my own, I am very grateful to Castle Craig.”
What drug and alcohol rehab for seniors looks like at Castle Craig
Drug and alcohol addiction rehab at Castle Craig is residential. For those seeking elderly addiction rehab specifically, it is worth knowing what a residential stay actually involves day to day. You live at the hospital for the duration of your stay, in a structured daily environment that includes:
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Wellness and activity-based sessions
- Time for reflection
- 24-hour medical and nursing support
- Animal-assisted therapy
Castle Craig does not run a separate programme for older adults. You will join the same medically-led residential programme as all adult patients aged 17 and above. What changes is how our clinical team responds to you as an individual. We shape our treatment around each person’s needs – your physical health, your medications, your mobility, your mental health, and what has led you here. Older adults are not treated as a category. They are treated as people.
We have been offering treatment that genuinely works for more than 37 years. Alcohol rehab for elderly people and those in later life has always been part of that.
Length of stay
Castle Craig offers residential stays of four, eight, and 12 weeks:
- A four-week stay provides a structured introduction to detox and therapy – enough time to stabilise and begin addressing the root causes of dependency
- An eight-week programme allows for more in-depth therapeutic work and more time to build the coping strategies you will need when you return home
- A 12-week stay is often the right choice for people with a longer history of dependency, more complex health needs, or who need a more sustained period of support before discharge
The right length depends on your individual situation. We discuss this honestly at assessment and review it throughout your stay if circumstances change.
Recovery from alcohol use disorder and drug addiction does not end when you leave. Before discharge, your clinical team builds a plan for what comes next – including aftercare support, ongoing therapy, and connection to community resources. Recovery is a process, not an event, and our support does not stop on the day you go home.
Supporting a parent or older family member through addiction
Watching someone you know navigate alcohol or drug use in later life can be confusing and painful. You might not be sure what you are seeing is addiction. You might have tried to raise it before and been met with denial or anger. You might feel guilty, exhausted, or unsure where to start.
That is a very normal place to be when navigating drug and alcohol rehab for elderly members of your family, or those in your life.
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How to start the conversation
There is no perfect script, but there are approaches that tend to work better than others:
- Choose a calm moment – not during or immediately after an incident involving alcohol or drugs
- Use “I” and “we/us” statements rather than accusations – “I’ve been worried about you, and I know we can work this out together” lands differently to “you have a problem”
- Be specific rather than general – mention particular things you have noticed, rather than making broad statements
- Keep it about care, not control – the goal is to open a door, not to force someone through it
- Be prepared for it not to go well the first time – that does not mean it was the wrong thing to do
It is also worth knowing that addiction in older adults can carry a layer of shame that younger people may not feel in the same way. This generation often grew up at a time when addiction and mental wellbeing were not spoken about as health conditions. Approaching the conversation with patience, and without judgement, matters more than finding the right words.
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Support for yourself
Supporting someone through addiction – at any age – takes a toll. Castle Craig offers family therapy as part of our residential programme, and our admissions team can speak with family members directly. You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Cost and next steps
Private residential rehab at Castle Craig typically costs between £18,880 and £38,800 per month. Total cost depends on the length of your stay and the room you choose. We can give you a specific breakdown when you get in touch.
Castle Craig works with many major private health insurers. If your policy covers inpatient addiction treatment, we can help you understand what is included and what the process for authorisation looks like. If insurance is not an option, we can talk through private pay.
NHS-funded referrals are uncommon and subject to local commissioning criteria, but your GP can advise on whether you may be eligible.
The first step for most people is a free addiction assessment. This is a confidential conversation – with one of our team, not a form to fill out alone. It helps us understand your situation and helps you understand what treatment would actually involve. There is no obligation attached to it.
Call us on 01721 546 263 or use our online form to arrange a time that suits you.
We can help
Common questions about drug and alcohol rehab for seniors
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What is the best approach to alcohol and drug rehab for seniors?
There is no single best approach that applies to everyone. What matters is that the treatment is shaped around your individual circumstances – your physical health, your mental health, your history with alcohol or drugs, and what your life looks like outside of treatment. At Castle Craig, that shaping happens from the first conversation. A free assessment is the best way to understand what the right approach looks like for you specifically.
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Does private health insurance cover drug and alcohol rehab for seniors?
It depends on your policy and provider. Some policies cover a portion or all of the cost of inpatient addiction treatment. Others have limitations on which providers or therapy types are included. Castle Craig works with many major private health insurers. Contact us and we can help you understand whether your policy applies and how the authorisation process works.
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Can family members be involved in my treatment?
Yes. Family involvement is an important part of recovery for many patients. Castle Craig offers family therapy as part of the programme. If you are a family member looking for guidance on how to support someone, our admissions team can speak with you directly – you do not need to wait until a loved one has agreed to treatment to get in touch.
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How do I start the admissions process at Castle Craig?
Call us on 01721 546 263 or fill out our online form to arrange a free addiction assessment. The assessment is confidential and there is no obligation. From there, your clinical team will explain what treatment involves, what it costs, and what the next steps are.
Free & Confidential Assessment
Compassion, expertly delivered evidence-based practices and a patient-centred approach are at the heart of our treatment model. Request a call-back from one of our professionals on any day of the week.