Senior Adults and the Risk of Gambling Addiction
Posted on 18. Aug, 2011 by Problem Gambling in Gambling Addiction
Years ago seniors may have gotten out of the house for a little fun and socializing in the church basement to play a weekly game of bingo. Today, seniors may be living in adult centers rather than at home and are more likely to be visiting the local casino.
Fayetta Martin is an assistant professor at Wayne State University. In 2008 she released a study examining what motivates senior adults to become involved in gambling. She was particularly interested in women and gambling but the study provided a general picture of senior adults and gambling behaviors.
Why Do Seniors Gamble?
According to her study, seniors gamble for several reasons. One reason is financial gain. Supplementing a fixed income is a strong enticement to gambling. However, the thrill of winning and the opportunity for socialization are also strong motivators. Seniors further reported that gambling distracted them from the loneliness they were experiencing and many said that it provides a distraction from their physical ailments as well.
With such motivation it is easy to see the attraction a day of gambling at the casino provides. However, senior adults experience several losses and transitions that could put them at an increased risk for developing serious gambling problems.
Senior adults often must deal with a sudden loss of social contact as they enter into retirement. Within a relatively short period they may also experience losses in physical abilities and the permanent loss of a spouse or loved one. These compounded difficulties can be challenging for all seniors. Seniors who are living away from regular contact with children and family may experience these feelings even more intensely. Without regular family interactions, a serious gambling problem could easily be hidden.
Casinos understand these clients and work hard to make them feel welcome so that they keep them coming back. Seniors can feel isolated as their driving skills diminish, so casinos send posh buses to senior living centers to chauffer them back and forth for their day of gambling. Free or discounted meals are offered. Casinos meets social needs by recognizing birthdays and sending cards in the mail to seniors who have been absent for a time. Beyond this, casinos provide wheelchairs and even oxygen for their senior visitors.
Diagnosing & Treating Gambling Addiction
Diagnosing a gambling problem in a senior adult can prove difficult for several reasons. Reduced family contact allows a gambling problem to develop unnoticed.
Should a problem be identified, the current DSM-IV recognizes only two categories: pathological and non-pathological gambling. In order to be diagnosed as a pathological gambler, five of the 10 criteria must be met, yet seniors who meet four of the 10 criteria could still have a serious gambling problem. Should the person receive a diagnosis of pathological gambling, it is categorized as an impulse control disorder (e.g., kleptomania) rather than as an addictive disorder, which can have a direct impact on insurance payments for treatment.
Senior adults trapped by a gambling problem are in a particularly dangerous position. Some may have reduced cognitive abilities which will diminish their ability to make reasonable decisions. Should the person experience serious financial losses, it could affect their ability to receive a Medicaid-sponsored bed in a full-time senior living facility. Medicaid currently goes back five years to see if the person has divested themselves significantly before awarding help. Divestiture through gambling losses would not exempt the person from ineligibility.
As the population ages, it will be increasingly important for those involved with senior adults to be aware of the potential risks associated with gambling. The United States is on the cusp of a tidal wave of senior adults and gambling is becoming increasingly problematic for them. Recognizing the danger and identifying the signs of problem gambling need to become a regular part of senior care.
