Gambling - Senior Adults

By Jerry Price - Aug 21, 2006 - comment

More and more senior adults are falling prey to the menace of gambling. They may gamble for a number of reasons:

  1. Because they are bored and looking for excitement.
  2. Because they are looking for a way to escape problems in their life.
  3. Because they see it simply as a social activity.
  4. Because they are looking to increase their retirement fund.

But sometimes, gambling becomes something that gets its hooks into people’s emotional makeup and they become addicted before they realize it. When that happens, they may lose their life savings, blow their retirement income, create enormous debt that causes them to lose their home, and more.

Michael Lynch, an addictions counselor with Alberta Alcohol & Drug Abuse Commission in Canada, suggests three major stages in recovery for seniors:

  • First, alternatives are put in place to stop the problem gambling. During this stage, the senior tries different ways to avoid high-risk situations. This step involves finding new enjoyable leisure activities. Learning about problem gambling is also encouraged, since it can provide a social setting that helps recovering gamblers realize they are not alone. Addiction treatment programs are a good place to start. Your family doctor may be able to provide more insight into problem gambling. The Internet and various media can also provide information.
  • Next, the senior continues taking part in new activities while cutting out problem gambling. New hobbies, clubs or volunteer interests are all possibilities. More time can be spent with family and friends neglected because of gambling. Less time spent on a sedentary activity, indoors and often in a smoke-filled environment can also contribute to better overall health.
  • Finally, support to continue recovery must be found. Recovering problem gamblers need understanding to deal wit the guilt and shame they may be feeling. A last important step involves reducing access to cash or credit that may create a temptation to gamble.

Adapted from Michael Lynch, “Problem Gambling: When It’s No Longer a Game,” Edmonton Journal (Family Health section), October 1, 2005

Linda Selymes started gambling two years before her retirement as an executive at Boeing Aircraft. But after retirement, she began gambling more often. She went through $500,000 in retirement savings, fell behind on house payments, and hated the person she had become.

At the height of her addiction, she would draw out $500 from her credit union account and head for the casino. After losing that money, she would use her debit card to get another $500, then add $300 more to credit cards. On one occasion, she had in her purse $14,000 that she had won, but it was all gone in three days.

At first Linda’s husband did not know what she was doing since she managed the household finances. But after an all-nighter at a casino, her husband threatened to leave her—though never did. Finally, her husband, her son, and her doctor convinced her to get help. It took several months to eventually gain control and completely stop gambling. She now says she will never stop going to her support group meetings because she knows that if she gambles again, she will be on the fast-track to being back where she was. She says there is one thing she keeps telling herself: “At least for today I won’t give in to this urge. I don’t have to deal with my whole life all at once.”

Adapted from Marsha King, “Older Adults Vulnerable to Gambling Addiction,” Grand Forks Herald (North Dakota), December 3, 2005

Further Learning

Learn more about: Family, Addictions, Gambling

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