Elderly Parent With A Gambling Problem

• Elderly Parent With A Gambling Problem Will
• Elderly Parent With A Gambling Problem May

For some seniors, gambling is just a fun pastime, but for others it can become a dangerous addiction. The growing popularity of gambling games on smartphones and computers makes it even easier for seniors to become addicted to gambling. A gambling addiction can be difficult to spot. Keep an eye out for these signs of gambling addiction in your senior loved one.

'When the handover happens and the elderly parent is left destitute little can be done typically because there was no proper legal agreement in place,' Ryan says. Gambling or addiction issues. Gambling problems can have significant impacts on families and communities, yet this has received relatively little research attention. Although most available information is based on intimate partners and children, gambling problems can also affect extended family members such as parents, grandparents and siblings. But problem gambling can be destructive and if not addressed, can leave your parent embarrassed, financially strapped and stressed. While you can't force your parents to stop gambling, taking some steps to provide them with resources and support will let them know your concerns and willingness to help them get better.

Lack of Interest in Other Hobbies and Responsibilities

If your parent has a gambling addiction, you may notice he or she no longer finds joy and excitement in previous hobbies. Seniors who are focused on gambling may no longer engage in things they used to like. Even when he or she is not spending time gambling, the addiction could cause your loved one’s old habits to no longer seem exciting or interesting. Your loved one may even lose interest in tasks and responsibilities. You might notice your loved one is no longer keeping up with hygiene, or his or her home may fall into disarray.

If your loved one needs help maintaining a healthy home and life, consider hiring an in-home professional caregiver. When considering home care, Mesa, AZ, families should make sure their senior loved ones have the resources they need to maintain their independence and remain healthy. Trusted in-home care professionals can assist seniors with daily tasks like cooking, bathing, and exercise, and they can also encourage them to focus on healthier lifestyle habits.

Unpaid Bills and Requests for Loans

If you are not in charge of your loved one’s finances, it may be difficult to notice how he or she spends money. However, if you are observant, you can see signs of how gambling is affecting his or her finances. You may notice your loved one getting calls or bills stating his or her utilities and credit card payments are past due, or he or she may ask you for a loan to pay for groceries and other necessities. Your loved one may offer excuses like losing a check, forgetting his or her wallet, or having an accountant error, but constant issues with money could still be a sign of a gambling addiction.

Family caregivers often have little time to help their loved ones manage their finances. In Mesa, respite care is a great help to many families. Caring for a senior loved one can be overwhelming at times, which puts family caregivers at risk for burnout. However, an in-home caregiver can take over your loved one’s care, allowing you the time you need to focus on your own health, maintain a full-time job, or care for other members of your family.

Prioritizing Gambling Over Other Activities

You do not necessarily need to worry every time your parent decides to visit a casino or racetrack. It is normal for seniors to visit these sorts of places every now and then as a social event. However, you should be concerned if your loved one is willing to skip other engagements and events to gamble. Those with an addiction may be willing to miss important family gatherings, parties, appointments, and club meetings to gamble. Even when there are negative consequences to choosing gambling over other activities, seniors with an addiction will persist in gambling.

Irresponsible Spending Habits

When a person with a gambling addiction wins a big bet, he or she may decide to splurge on a celebration, buy expensive clothing, go out for fancy dinners, or purchase new electronics with the gambling winnings. This behavior is also common among those without an addiction, but the frequency of these sorts of spending sprees can clue you in to how often your loved one is gambling. You may also notice your loved one making poor spending choices because he or she assumes the money can be won back by gambling more.

Elderly Parent With A Gambling Problem Will

By receiving professional in-home care, older adults can make healthy lifestyle choices and keep negative addictions at bay. In Mesa, home care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy. To schedule an in-home consultation, call us at (480) 699-4899.

With so many people in New York State becoming addicted to gambling, many more family members and friends are forced to understand gambling addiction and its consequences, as well as how they should deal with the impact a parent’s gambling addiction has on their own lives.

If you’re the child of a problem gambler, we know it can be a difficult experience. You may be struggling to understand the addiction, and you might be asking, “Why can’t they just stop?” Maybe you want to help but you don’t know how, or you’re worried that your parent’s addiction may lead you to your own. If you still live at home, you might be dealing with the loss or downsizing of your home, or the selling of possessions to pay off the debt of the family.

We know this is a hard time, but you are not alone. Here are some things you should know:

Your Parent’s Gambling Addiction? It’s Not Your Fault.

Many children of problem gamblers wonder if it was something they did that drove their parents toward their addiction. That is not the case. You did not cause it, and you cannot single-handedly stop it. Remove that pressure from yourself and do not feel guilty. It was no choice or action of yours that caused this addiction.

Elderly Parent With A Gambling Problem May

It’s Not a Choice – It’s a Gambling Disorder.

Gambling addiction is a disease. It’s not a bad habit, carelessness or reckless behavior and it’s not a sign of a lack of care for the family at home. Those are misconceptions – some of the myths of problem gambling. Just like addictions to drugs and alcohol, this addiction is a disease. It’s a mental health issue, and that is why it is so hard for problem gamblers to stop.

Gambling addicts feel a “high” when they gamble – just as alcoholics do when they drink and drug addicts do when they use their choice of legal or illegal drugs. The only difference is gambling doesn’t require problem gamblers to ingest anything to reach a euphoric state.

Help is Available.

Counseling, whether in one-on-one sessions or support groups, is available throughout New York State for problem gamblers and for anyone affected by problem gambling.

While many family members may accompany the gambler to private therapy or counseling sessions, others find it valuable to go to Gam-Anon meetings attended by significant others, family members and friends of people with addictions. Gam-Anon provides you with the opportunity to share your story, concerns and frustration with people who have been through the same experience. You’ll feel less alone, and you’ll be able to get advice and emotional support from people who understand how you feel and how you can move forward.

Your Relationship May Be Strained Now, But It Can Be Repaired.

Gambling addiction can be cured, and work can be done to fix damage done, such as the accumulation of debt, the loss of property and the loss of the trust of family, friends and employers.

You may be angry at your parent. They may have lied to you in order to gamble, or simply kept the truth from you for months or years. Their financial situation may have jeopardized your lifestyle or purchases you had expected to rely on, such as money put away for a new family car or the savings that had been kept for your college tuition. You may have to deal with the reactions of other family members, friends, neighbors or coworkers who have found out about your parent’s addiction and attempt to discuss it with you.

Your relationship with your parent can be repaired. It may take time, and it will take the work, but together you can begin communicating and return to a relationship that’s open and honest.

Need help?

If you’re ready to talk to a counselor or support group about your family member’s gambling, we are prepared to help you immediately. The NYS HOPEline offers help and hope to people every day. You can call toll-free anytime for assistance. Every call is anonymous and confidential.

Call 1-877-8-HOPENY.