| Summary: | The aim of this study is to investigate professionals’ working experience with elderly peoplewith substance use disorders and how drug or alcohol abuse affects their work with theirclients. The most important areas of focus are professionals’ views on older clients’ substanceand alcohol abuse, moral or ethical dilemmas in relation to work and the elderly’s needs forsupport and help according to professionals. To identify these problems, a qualitative methodwas used with semi-structured interviews, interviewing a total of 8 professionals in twonursing homes specializing in older clients with substance use disorder and a rehabilitationcenter aimed at ages 40 to 70. Interview data was analyzed with thematization and coding.Analysis of the material was carried out using theories such as care perspectives, ethics forsocial workers and ageism. The results of the study indicate that most professionals whowork with this target group lack the knowledge of geriatrics combined with substance abuseknowledge. A comparison is drawn between the two institutions and their organizationalrules regarding alcohol or drug consumption by clients. The study further highlights thestaff's experience of finding themselves between organizational rules, professional rules andtheir own values and beliefs. The results show that professionals are struggling with the lackof rules. In addition to that the results of this study show that stereotypical perceptions ofolder people tend to influence professionals as well as other social institutions that work withthis target group. The study also addresses the issue of inadequate treatment efforts aimed atolder people and a mapping of their alcohol and drug habits.
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