As the field of Aging in Recovery continues to take shape, one question becomes unavoidable: what does long-term recovery actually require as individuals enter later life? The Aging in Recovery Residential Model (ARRM) offers a clear and practical answer. It is not an abstract concept or a general response framework. ARRM is a structural, residential […]
ARRM: Rethinking Recovery Through Environment and Continuity Read Post »
Over the past several decades, thousands of individuals have achieved something once considered unlikely—long-term recovery from substance use disorders. Many have sustained that recovery for 10, 20, and even 30 years. Today, they are entering older adulthood. Yet despite this success, there is a problem: no system was built for what comes next. Aging in
Aging in Recovery: The Population We Failed to Plan For Read Post »
Aging in place has become one of the most widely promoted ideas in aging policy. The concept is simple: remaining at home as one grows older is associated with independence, comfort, and continuity. For many, this holds true. But the model assumes something that is not always present—stability. For individuals aging in recovery, stability is
Aging in Place—But Not Always in Stability Read Post »
When Recovery Succeeds, but Systems Disappear Most systems are designed to respond to problems. A crisis emerges. A response is activated. An outcome is achieved. Then the system moves on. In recovery services, this structure is everywhere. Programs are designed for entry. Services focus on stabilization. Support is strongest at the beginning. But what happens
Aging in Recovery: When Recovery Succeeds but Systems Disappear Read Post »
For decades, social and healthcare systems have been designed to respond to crises. Substance use. Hospitalization. Instability. When these events occur, systems activate. Services appear. Interventions are deployed. But what happens when SUD recovery works? What happens when someone lives 20, 30, even 40 years in recovery — and begins to age? This is where
Aging In Recovery: When Systems Dont Know What To Do Next Read Post »
Recovery is often viewed as something achieved and maintained over time. However, this perspective overlooks an important reality: the conditions that support recovery change. The concept of recovery capital helps explain this. Recovery capital refers to the resources that support long-term stability—relationships, financial security, health, and access to services. These resources are not fixed. They
Why Recovery Doesn’t Stay the Same as We Age Read Post »