Benzodiazepine Rehab for Older Adults
Specialized benzodiazepine care for older adults, with slower tapers and attention to the health conditions that come with age.
Available 24/7 · 100% confidential
Why Long-Term Prescribing Leads to Dependence
Many older adults have taken a benzodiazepine for years for anxiety, sleep, or muscle tension, often started during a stressful period and never revisited. Using it nightly for a long time almost always produces physical dependence.
Guidelines for older adults, including the American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria, advise avoiding benzodiazepines when possible because they raise the risk of falls, fractures, confusion, and car accidents. The brain also becomes more sensitive to sedatives with age.
Many people are surprised to learn that the medication may now be contributing to the memory problems, unsteadiness, or fatigue they attribute to getting older.
Why Tapering Must Be Slower
The goal is the same at any age, but the approach is more cautious for older adults.
Drugs linger longer
Aging slows the way the body processes benzodiazepines, so effects and withdrawal can be delayed and prolonged.
Falls and confusion
Withdrawal symptoms such as tremor, dizziness, and delirium are more dangerous when balance and cognition are already fragile.
Other medications
Many older adults take several medications, so a taper needs a review of interactions and of what the benzodiazepine is treating.
Smaller, slower steps
Dose reductions are smaller and the pace is adjusted to how you feel, with close monitoring.
Stopping abruptly is never safe. A supervised taper protects against seizures and delirium.
Co-Occurring Health Conditions
Older adults often manage heart conditions, diabetes, chronic pain, memory concerns, or sleep disorders alongside benzodiazepine use. These conditions affect how a taper is planned and what supports are needed.
At iRely, medical assessment includes your full health picture, and anxiety, depression, grief, and insomnia are treated through therapy and dual diagnosis care, so sleep and worry are handled without relying on a sedative. We coordinate with your other providers when you give consent.
If you have Medicare or another plan, call us and we will tell you what is possible.
Insurance and Cost
iRely Recovery works with most major PPO plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Humana, usually on an out-of-network basis. What you pay depends on your plan, your benefits, and the level of care you need.
We verify benefits for free, typically in about five to ten minutes, and explain what your plan is expected to cover before you decide anything. You can also start with our insurance verification page.
Admissions
Starting treatment is simpler than most people expect. Here is how admission works, from first call to first day.
Call or send the form
A confidential conversation, available 24/7, with someone who can answer your questions and explain your options.
Insurance verification
We check your PPO benefits at no cost, typically in about five to ten minutes.
Clinical assessment
A short assessment of your medication history, health, and mental health sets the level of care and the plan.
Arrival and welcome
You settle into our home-like residence in Sherwood Forest with clinical support around the clock.
You can also reach us through the admissions page.
Older Adult Benzodiazepine Rehab Questions
Straight answers to the questions people ask most.
Is it dangerous for older adults to take benzodiazepines long-term?
They raise the risk of falls, fractures, confusion, and accidents, and long-term use causes dependence. Guidelines advise avoiding them in older adults when possible.
Is it safe to stop a benzodiazepine I have taken for years?
Not abruptly. A supervised, gradual taper is the safe way, and for older adults it is often slower and more closely monitored.
Could my medication be causing memory problems?
Benzodiazepines can impair memory and thinking, and stopping them can improve clarity for some people. A clinician can help sort out the causes.
What will help with sleep and anxiety once I stop?
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and anxiety, other non-benzodiazepine options, and mindfulness and sleep routines are effective for many people.
Will you coordinate with my doctor?
With your consent, yes. We can coordinate with your prescriber and other providers.
How long does a taper take for an older adult?
It varies with dose and health. Older adults often need slower tapers. A clinical assessment sets the plan.
Is my information private?
Your information is protected by federal privacy rules and shared only with your written consent unless the law requires otherwise.
Does insurance cover this care at iRely?
Most PPO plans are accepted, usually out of network. If you have Medicare, call 818-262-3537 and we will explain what is possible and verify what we can for free.
Sources & Further Reading
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2020). FDA requiring Boxed Warning updated to improve safe use of benzodiazepine drug class. Drug Safety Communication, September 23, 2020.
- American Society of Addiction Medicine and partner societies (2025). Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering.
- SAMHSA. Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 45.
- American Geriatrics Society (2023). Updated AGS Beers Criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 71(7), 2052-2081.
- Olfson M, King M, Schoenbaum M (2015). Benzodiazepine use in the United States. JAMA Psychiatry, 72(2), 136-142.
Part of iRely's benzodiazepine addiction treatment program.
Ready to Talk About Next Steps?
iRely Recovery offers medically supervised benzodiazepine detox and treatment in a small, confidential setting. Our team is available around the clock to answer your questions and start your intake.
Our admissions team answers 24 hours a day, every day.
818-262-3537We will reach out at a time that works for you. No commitment, no judgment.
Fill Out the FormEnter your info and we will contact your insurer, reporting back within hours.
Check My CoverageAvailable 24/7 · Confidential · Most PPO plans in-network
