Older Adults And Gambling
WHY DO OLDER ADULTS GAMBLE?
✓ Escaping boredom or loneliness
✓ Help forget problems
✓ Escaping lifestyle changes such as loss of spouse, divorce, or retirement
✓ Distracting themselves from anxiety
✓ Numbing pain or chronic health issues
However, some also gamble to:
✓ Recreation
✓ Spend time with friends
✓ Excitement
✓ Many of their family and friends are deceased
✓ Don’t have to feel lonely
✓ Escaping stress and depression
QUICK FACTS
✓ Up to half of older adults gamble, and over 25% wager regularly. The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG)
✓ The most popular forms of gambling in older adults are bingos, lotteries, scratch tickets, card games, and slot machines.
✓ Even regular recreational gambling is associated with some harm in older adults.
✓ Older adults who gamble regularly have increased rates of smoking and alcohol problems.
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WARNING SIGNS
✓ Loneliness
✓ Loss of spouse or life partner
✓ Decline in health
✓ Decline in personal hygiene
✓ Borrowing Money
✓ Selling personal items
✓ Irritability, Restlessness, Withdrawal, Defensive attitude
✓ Alienation from family and friend
✓ Inability to cut back or stop gambling
✓ Lying to friends and family about gambling
✓ Extreme guilt or shame
✓ Disappear for extended periods of time
✓ Suicidal thoughts
THE 3 PHASE PROGRESSION
✓ The Winning Phase–Gambling is fun, a temporary escape, and losses are considered 'Bad Luck'
✓ The Losing Phase–Borrows money to get even, lies escalate, and withdrawal increases
✓ The Desperation Phase–Occurs when the senior gambler becomes obsessed with obtaining money to cover losses. Severe mood swings, arguments, failing health, and possible criminal activity. Suicide is contemplated.