For Those 50+, Gambling is all Fun and Games. Wanna' Bet?

According to a Forbes magazine article, Americans “lose more money gambling than they spend on movie tickets, theme parks, spectator sports and video games combined.”


For Those 50+, Gambling is all Fun and Games. Wanna' Bet?

Gambling is fun, right?

For most people 50+, gambling is entertainment, pure and simple. It's a chance to escape with friends, get away from day to day stresses and have fun. Winning money is a bonus, not the primary objective. Most seniors who gamble continue to take care of their health and financial obligations.

Vegas, here we come!

For an increasing number of older citizens, (pre-seniors, seniors and retirees) casino gambling has become the new form of recreation and entertainment. Older adults now form the largest age group of annual visitors to Las Vegas and have become a significant segment of the population who frequent riverboat, Indian reservation, and the commercial gambling casino industry.

Time and Money.

Older adults have two characteristics that make them attractive to the gaming industry: time and for many, accumulated wealth. Gambling machines are fun and exciting and don't require a great deal of concentration or knowledge. Just pop in those quarters.

Safe environment.

Casinos and bingo parlors have worked hard to be seen as safe and friendly entertainment venues and they fill a social void for many older adults. The casino atmosphere is both stimulating and inclusive. Everybody is welcome!

G rated, sort of.

The stigma that once surrounded gambling is gone, especially for women. Community groups, such as retirement and senior centers, visit casinos regularly and often sponsor casino nights. Casinos are willing to provide transportation from senior sites as a convenience to older citizens, many of whom limit their driving to within a local area.

Boffo entertainment, free drinks and all you can eat.

Casinos often provide entertainment such as big band music, champagne fountains and free shrimp cocktails that patrons would not be subject to elsewhere. Casino staff is trained to be friendly and especially accommodating to older citizens. Additionally, casinos offer low-cost buffet meals that are hard for anyone to turn down.

But, it’s not all wine and roses.

For a growing number of people in the over 50 age segment, sadly, gambling can be a losing proposition . An easily accessible minor habit of gambling may become a potentially devastating pastime.

According to a recent study made by McNeilly and Burke, middle-aged to older women (who comprise the largest portion of the older adult population) are believed to be among the fastest growing group of those who gamble –sometimes to relieve feelings of isolation, loneliness or boredom.

Danger!

Problems can occur when more time and attention are needed as the gambler attempts to win back what he or she has lost. If the losses continue, the gambler may have to sell possessions or property to cover expenses, or seek risky or high interest loans. Often, the problem gambler avoids friends and family and lies about his or her activities.

7 signs of potential gambling problems:

gambling more often
gambling for more money
gambling for longer periods of time
being preoccupied with gambling or with obtaining money with which to gamble
gambling in spite of negative consequences, such as large losses, taking out secret loans, or tapping into savings or pension plans
having frequent mood swings, higher when winning, lower when losing
gambling as a means to cope with loneliness, stress or depression
Here are some tips from The Minnesota Institute of Public Health on how to reduce the risk of developing a gambling problem.

The decision to gamble should be a personal choice.
No one should feel pressured to gamble. Many people will choose to gamble socially, for a limited period of time and with predetermined limits for losses. Others will simply have no desire to gamble. Some people with a family history of gambling problems or other addictions may choose not to risk gambling at all.

Gambling is not essential for having a good time.
The real value of social activities is being with friends and taking time out from the pressures of daily living. Gambling should not be seen as necessary for having fun and being with friends. Gambling can be an enjoyable complement to other activities but shouldn't be seen as the only method of socializing.

What constitutes an acceptable loss needs to be established before starting to gamble.
People need to expect that they will lose more often than they will win. The odds are always against winning. Any money spent on gambling needs to be considered the cost of entertainment. Money needed to provide for basic needs, such as food, clothing, shelter and medications, should not be used for gambling. People should only gamble money they can afford to lose and avoid betting when the level is out of their range. For those who choose to gamble, it is essential to know when to stop.

Borrowing money to gamble should be avoided and discouraged.
Borrowing money from a friend or relative, writing bad checks, pawning personal possessions, taking out home equity loans or credit card cash advances with the intention of repaying with gambling winnings is always high-risk and inappropriate.

There are certain high risk situations during which gambling should be avoided.
They include when you are:

feeling lonely, angry, depressed or under stress;
coping with the death or loss of a loved one;
trying to solve any personal or family problems; or
trying to impress others.
Using alcohol or other drugs when gambling is risky.
Alcohol or other drug use can affect a person's judgment and can interfere with his/her ability to control gambling and adhere to predetermined limits.

Where to go for help, if needed:

Gamblers Anonymous: 1-213-386-8789 or .
National Council on Problem Gambling: 1-800-522-4700.
So to end on a positive note, remember to keep gambling in perspective. It should be (if you choose) just part of your life—not all of it. Have fun, make friends and have a great time. <<


For other articles of interest to those over 50 (seniors and boomers) visit www.LetLifeIn.com. With a cutting edge and a (sometimes irreverent) sense of humor, LetLifeIn.com explores all aspects of being 50+ -- the concerns, the issues, and the controversies as well as the fun stuff.

HIV / AIDS after 50: What You don't Know Can Kill You

50+ Issues: "Almost 20% of persons living with HIV / AIDS in the United States are 50 years of age or older. Here's what you need to know."

Outrageous and upsetting news!

Almost 20% of persons living with HIV / AIDS in the United States are 50 years of age or older.

Three distinct groups.

The advent and wide availability of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) in the developed world has extended the life expectancy for people living with HIV/AIDS, and has thereby created several distinct populations of older adults in relation to HIV disease.

1. The newly infected.


First are those older adults who have become newly infected with HIV in later life.



2. Long term survivors.


Second, are the long term survivors, who were infected much earlier and are now able to grow old with HIV/AIDS due to the tremendous advancement in HIV treatment.



3. HIV negative people engaging in risky behavior.


Third are those older adults who may be HIV negative, but are unaware of their risk for infection, engaging in behaviors that increase their risk for exposure to HIV.

We know through research that compared to younger persons, those 50+ are less likely to use condoms or practice methods of safe sex. They are less likely to be tested for HIV, or to know their own HIV status.

Misconceptions and ageist attitudes.


Misconceptions and ageist attitudes about aging and sexuality continue. Older people are seen as asexual, heterosexual and monogamous by society and health care providers.

Yet older adults are exposed to HIV by the same means as younger persons.

These risk factors will certainly continue to increase in the coming years with the aging of the Baby Boom generation and their generational mindset related to drug use and sexuality.

Social, physical and psychological challenges.

Once infected with HIV disease, older adults experience multiple social, physical and psychological challenges that negatively impact their quality of life.

Social Challenges.

As we age, our social resources may decline through loss of friends, family and other informal supports. Research has consistently found that older adults with HIV/AIDS have a very high likelihood of living alone.

Such living arrangements may result in social isolation and limited assistance with physical care needs which may in turn exacerbate psychological problems such as depression. Becoming HIV infected may result in a severing of social ties from family and friends.

As one 51 year old man stated, "You feel more closed …You just don't feel like you can socialize anymore."

Physical Challenges.

While the management of HIV disease is a challenge for most individuals, older adults have the added complication of possibly having more than one diagnosable condition at the same time.

The physical well- being of older persons may be impacted not only by HIV, but also by age-related diseases such as arthritis, non-HIV related respiratory or cardiac disease, or other disease processes.

While older persons with HIV/AIDS have been found to be more compliant with HIV medications than their younger counterparts, there is an increased likelihood of drug-drug interactions between HIV medications and those prescribed for other medical conditions.

Simply put, HIV complicates the already difficult process of managing age related disease processes.

Psychological Challenges.

While many older adults living with HIV/AIDS have adjusted well to their illness, a sizable minority of HIV-infected older adults confront a variety of psychological issues.

In a National Institute of Mental Health study, 32% of the HIV infected older adults interviewed voiced symptoms of depression. The psychological impact of the disease is compounded by internalized stigma emanating from an AIDS phobic society.

One 72 year old man interviewed stated, "You don't what people to know you have this dreaded disease…I would rather get run over by a truck than die of AIDS. That's what I'm hoping for; I'm hoping that nobody else finds out."

Late detection.

Rates of HIV infection (not AIDS) in seniors are especially difficult to determine because older people are not routinely tested.

Most older people are first diagnosed with HIV at a late stage of infection, and often become ill with AIDS-related complications and die sooner than their younger counterparts; these deaths can be attributed to original misdiagnoses and immune systems that naturally weaken with age.

The double stigma.

Older people with HIV/AIDS face a double stigma: ageism and infection with a sexually-or-IV-drug transmitted disease.

Because of the stigmas, it can be difficult for seniors---women, in particular---to disclose their HIV status to family, friends and their community.

Heterosexual infections on the rise.

While men who have sex with men form the largest group of AIDS cases in the over-50 population, the number of cases in women infected heterosexually have been rising at a higher rate and comprise a greater percentage as age increases into the 60s and older.

HIV and older women

For women over 50, there are special considerations: after menopause, condom use for birth control becomes unimportant, and normal aging changes such as a decrease in vaginal lubrication and thinning vaginal walls can put them at higher risk during unprotected sexual intercourse.

Age symptoms confused with HIV symptoms.

As HIV symptoms often are similar to those associated with aging (fatigue, weight loss, dementia, skin rashes, and swollen lymph nodes), misdiagnosis is frequent in older people who are, in fact, infected.

The lack-of-support syndrome.

Seniors often are less likely to find support and comfort among family and friends, and because they are traditionally not comfortable in support groups, they may be less inclined to join them, citing lack of shared experiences concerning different issues.

The sin of omission.

Due to the general lack of awareness of HIV/AIDS in older adults, this segment of the population, for the most part, has been omitted from research, clinical drug trials, educational prevention programs and intervention efforts.

Cases of new HIV infection among older persons will continue and likely increase for the foreseeable future, while increasing numbers of people will live into old age with HIV/AIDS.

It is incumbent upon us to provide improved systems of care for these individuals. <<

For other articles of interest to those over 50 (seniors and boomers) visit www.LetLifeIn.com. With a cutting edge and a (sometimes irreverent) sense of humor, LetLifeIn.com explores all aspects of being 50+ -- the concerns, the issues, and the controversies as well as the fun stuff.

Not Recommended: Growing Old in Prison

"If you think growing old can be tough, try doing it in a prison. One segment of the 50+ population that is seldom mentioned in stories about our so-called golden years involves those who face the fact that they will most likely spend the remainder of their lives behind bars."

Prison conditions, especially for those getting on in years, can be horrendous.

In prison you age quicker

To many of us age 55 sounds pretty young, but aging is different for prisoners. From a health standpoint, elderly prisoners are about 10 years older than their chronological age due to characteristics of their lives before entering prison. Low socio-economic status, lack of access to health care, drug or alcohol use and years of living a hard life usually takes its toll.

A growing population

Just how many prisoners are we talking about? Using 50 as the definite age, there are approximately 125,000 elderly prisoners nationwide - about 11 percent of the total prison population. The number of older prisoners has more than doubled in a decade, and the increase is expected to continue.

Who are those people

Older inmates fall into three categories. There are "lifers", who have been in prison for their whole lives, new elderly offenders, who are sentenced in their 40s or 50s, and chronic re-offenders, who have been in and out of prison consistently.

The wants and needs of elderly inmates

Not surprising, being older and in prison is considerably more difficult than serving time when you are young. Studies show that elderly prisoners need more orderly conditions, safety precautions, emotional feedback and familial support than younger prisoners. They are especially uncomfortable in crowded conditions and tend to want time alone.

The old vs. the young

The relationship between older and younger inmates can be a problem. Most elderly prisoners are still integrated with other age groups, leaving them susceptible to intimidation and thievery. Older inmates are very vulnerable to the population that's stronger than them.

Fear leads to isolation

The fear of becoming a victim no doubt has an impact on one's daily life. Many prisons house aging prisoners in separate cells from younger inmates but do not exclude them from mixing in the yard with everyone else. Older inmates are often so scared of mingling that they don't go outside.

Health concerns

Then there is the matter of health. There are many concerns facing elderly prisoners, such as the lack of an adequate or balanced diet and insufficient preventive health care..

Men

It has been reported that the most common illness among elderly men in prison are diabetes and hepatitis C. Many are on dialysis machines, receive oxygen or have cancer.

Diabetes is especially problematic because non-medical prisons rarely cater to those with special dietary needs. Prisoners with diabetes usually eat the same food as other inmates - meals full of sugar and carbohydrates. Just think what a daily plate of pancakes and syrup can do.

Women

Female prisoners are at an even greater health risk. At just two percent of the prison population, their needs are most neglected. Older females, many of them grandmothers, have special health care needs that are very distinct from men.

Therapeutic services, cervical and breast cancer screenings and nutritional meals containing calcium and fresh vegetables as well as other necessary health programs are not widely available.

The shock of imprisonment

Imagine you are over 50 and just coming into prison and being isolated from your friends and family for the first time. It's hard experiencing a multitude of losses simultaneously.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, most crimes are committed by people in their late teens and early 20s. In California, for example, only 22 percent of all felony adult arrests in 1999 were people over age 39. Only 5 percent were above 50 years old and only 1 percent above 60.

Are things getting better or worse?

As people live longer, are in better health and have more energy, they sometimes get involved in things that might get them in trouble.

Unfortunately, a rise in senior crime is evident. We are seeing many more older people convicted of felonies, such as drug crimes, physical attacks and murder - most often against a spouse or neighbor. Some theories on the increase point to money problems, loneliness, depression, alcohol and drug abuse problems.

Its truly sad that at the point in life when contentment should be our goal, many of us are facing the most difficult challenges one can imagine.

For other articles of interest to those over 50 (seniors and boomers) visit www.LetLifeIn.com. With a cutting edge and a (sometimes irreverent) sense of humor, LetLifeIn.com explores all aspects of being 50+ -- the concerns, the issues, and the controversies as well as the fun stuff.