Addictions can be in a form of drugs, alcohol, and gambling. I am going to talk about addictions in gambling.
When I was driving the other day by Mc Phillips Station Casino, I noticed that there were many people who went there and I was struck by the fact that among these people are many older people. One time a friend took me to sing at Club Regent Casino around 8pm, it was the same story. I wonder why this is happening, according to Kausch (2004), “elderly patients... changes in life can be associated with retirement and loss of a spouse can be associated with a serious addiction late in life, which can quickly spiral out of control” (p.17). Problem gamblers experience a range gambling-related problems, including spending more time or money gambling than intended, feeling guilty about their gambling, being criticized for their gambling, or borrowing money to gamble”(Pietrzak & Petry, 2006, p. 107). In most cases gambling is considered a severe issue if the elderly person spends too much of his money on gambling. It is also considered an issue if they spend it on these gambling machines instead to buy medications and food.
Gambling can be a severe problem if a person spends more time or money that is not unplanned, if a person gets to the point of borrowing money and increase of debts from other people. Takes granted work, school and family to gamble, lying because of gambling. And worst of all is arguing with friends and family about money issues, and trying to get back on losses to get money back. (Manitoba Lottery Corporation, 2011).
There are different kinds of resources to cure gambling addictions. There is the 24-Hour “Problem Gambling Helpline Confidential and Free, Addictions Foundation of Manitoba” (Addictions foundation Manitoba, 2011, front page). They have the orientation to problem gambling services: individual counselling, gambling rehabilitation group, continuing care group, telephone counselling, residential problem gambling program (Manitoba Lottery Corporation, 2011). There are also some more services that assist individuals with gambling problems through online like “GamTalk is an online community for people with gambling issues to share their experiences and ideas. Whether you have a gambling problem, know someone who does, have stopped gambling completely, or just want to get ideas on playing safely” (GamTalk, 2011, front page.). Once the program is completed, participants can receive ongoing support through their local AFM office.
Gambling addiction may develop later in life and can be a big problem as long as gambling opportunities such as Casinos continuously exists. I hope there will be more social activities that elders can spend their time on rather than going to Casinos. I am not saying that it is bad to go there or visit once in awhile for as long as there are limitations as to how much money is put in there. In addition, as long as it does not affect the elder person’s life by not buying necessary food and medications that they must purchase. Being a social work student working with the elderly people is a challenge for me. There is need to encourage these people in joining brain stimulating activities instead of motivating them in joining this kind of gambling activities that in the end they will waste their money and worst be addicted to it. I am wondering if there are services that deals mainly for elderly, because they have different issues compared to the rest of the population.
Reference:
Addictions Foundation Manitoba. (2011). Retrieved April 6, 2011, from http://www.afm.mb.ca/
Gamtalk. (2011). Retrieved April 6, 2011, from http://www.gamtalk.org/index.html
Kausch, O. (2004). Pathological gambling among elderly veterans. Journal of Geriatric and Neurology. Retrieved April 2, 2011, from http://jgp.sagepub.com/content/17/1/13
Manitoba lotteries corporation. (2011). Responsible Gaming. Retrieved April 2, 2011, from http://www.mlc.mb.ca/MLC/content.php?pageid=400&langdir=E
Pietrzak, R. & Petry, N. (2006). Severity of gambling problems and psychosocial functioning on older adults. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology. Retrieved April 2, 2011, from http://jgp.sagepub.com/content/19/2/106
Hello Mary Anne,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the discussion on gambling and the associated resources available in the community for those who are in need of help. Gambling addictions are not something that I would suspect among older adults, but as your research shows it is more prevalent than I once thought.
When I further reflected upon my experiences and and general lack of awareness of this problem among the aging population, I came to realize that I never suspected older people of having this problem because it is something that is never talked about, and it is never seen. When I think about it Casino's are not public property. To be in a Casino one must be over 18 years of age. Slot machines are tucked away out of plain sight. We never see the problem...how do we know its there? Gambling is a solution to the lonliness and isolation that older adults sometimes encounter as they age. Gambling is also a social experience. Chartered trips are planned for older adults to casino's as fun vacations. Who would be the first to notice if an older individual who is isolated and does not have many social supports begins to develop a gambling problem? How can we catch this issue before it becomes a problem? What kind of safety nets do we have set up to help older adults from being susceptable to developing a gambling problem? I do not have the answers to these questions yet, but your blog has helped me to start thinking of this issue as not just one isolated case, but as a bigger social problem that needs to be addressed. Thanks!
-Michelle K.