CBD has become a household name over the last several years and people of all ages take it for a variety of health and wellness reasons. CBD has also gained the attention of older adults and seniors living independently in their own homes as well as those living in assisted living communities. Family members, in particular, are showing interest in providing it to their parents living with a number of health conditions.
Rationale for Use
CBD and the aging body and brain appear to have an intimate connection, based on countless studies. CBD has shown positive results in helping manage pain due to inflammation, for instance. CBD has also shown benefits for older adults and seniors diagnosed with neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease as well as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis.
CBD can also be effective for the following condition:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sleep difficulty
- Appetite disturbance
- Agitation
Many seniors living in Als and memory care communities are diagnosed with these and other similar conditions. Because most people living in these communities take medications under staff supervision or are administered them by licensed nurses, shouldn’t CBD be available to those families and residents who want it?
Legality in AL and MC Communities
In general, CBD that contains .3% THC or less is legal in the majority of states. CBD containing zero THC shouldn’t be an issue either. A common-sense question to ask is “If CBD is legal in someone’s home, should it be legal in an assisted living community?” While CBD is mostly legal in these care communities, those receiving state or federal funding (Medicare and Medicaid), may put up roadblocks.
Things to Consider
The following points can be used to support the use of CBD for residents living in these communities.
- Residents have their medications administered by licensed staff
- Some care communities supervise self-administration of medications
- Residents have an individual assisted living plan in some states that can include the use of CBD for certain conditions
- Care communities can work with medical directors and pharmacists to develop programs, policies and procedures concerning the use of CBD
- Some states have stricter medication management regulations, like quarterly reviews, so this may actually support using CBD
Final Thoughts on CBD in Assisted Living and Memory Care
Hundreds of thousands of older adults and seniors live in assisted living communities now and the demand for it will only increase in the near future. Many of these people live with health conditions that can be helped with CBD. Lack of information may prevent some communities from using CBD. Others may worry about legality. Bringing CBD into care communities is a novel idea now, but it may become a mainstream phenomenon in the near future.