Minutes: From Tuesday, April 8, 2014 Meeting

Aging and Disability Network Meeting Notes 4/8/14:

Present: Maria Geizer (Home Instead), Karen Laing (Your Health Advocate), Mary Rickard (Saratoga County OFA), Donna Rudzinski (Shenendehowa Village), Candy Rivera-Whitehead (NYS-EPIC), Kim Swire (CHOICES of St. Peter’s), JoAnn Zales (National Grid), Patrick Harrington (Saratoga County OFA), Denise Dinoto (Consumer Directed Choices), Jess Froehlich (Eddy Daybreak), Cathy Tucker (Ameriprise Financial), Cindy Harrington (SOS).

Introduction: Mary Rickard welcomes all attendees.  Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday May 13 at 2pm, St. Edward the Confessor Church in Clifton Park. Laura Cameron, Executive Director of Association on Aging in New York, will speak about the Older Americans Act and the Olmstead Act.

Attendees introduced themselves.

Today’s topic and presenter: Linda Bellick, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Prevention Council of Saratoga County, presented on problem gambling and what it looks like in our community. Robin Lyle, the Prevention Council’s Director of Coalition Development was also there to answer questions and take part in the presentation. Linda did offer extra information and a focus on problem gambling in seniors.

Gambling addiction rates appear to be on the rise for seniors. Problems can occur in a senior with no prior history of gambling and women are the fastest growing group of addicted gamblers!  Gambling can be a form of emotional escape for folks who either have disposable income, or are looking for a big win to increase their income. Seniors also look for social interactions; many senior centers/retirement communities offer trips to casinos, where food is less expensive and there is excitement to entice them and easy access. Potential costs of problem gambling for seniors includes bankruptcies, inability to pay living expenses and medical expenses, stealing, depression, foreclosures and an increase in adult children having to support their parents financially. Signs of possible addiction in seniors include the person being withdrawn, vague about how they are spending their money, a selling off of valuables, and cashing in of insurance policies and spending retirement funds.

Linda also presented on gambling in adolescents  and college students. Adolescents are 2 times more likely to develop a problem with gambling than adults. Adolescent involvement in gambling is believed to be greater than their use of marijuana, tobacco and hard liquor. Why? Societal influences have normalized gambling, and the media bombards youth with pro-gambling messages. Fundraisers are often in the form of a 50/50 raffle or casino nights. Adolescents are also more inclined to be impulsive and susceptible to peer influence, and the belief that nothing bad can happen to them, increasing their risk. College –age youth have similar stats and risks as adolescents.

The Impact of Gambling on Communities:

20% of addicted gamblers have filed for bankruptcy

20% of homeless are gambling addicts

60% of those addicted to gambling will commit crimes

Up to 50% of spouses of addicted gamblers are abused

Society also bears the brunt with the overall cost to taxpayers estimated at $56,000 for each problem gambler, including cost of treatment, health-related costs, absenteeism at work and time spent in courts.

Help is available: New York Council on Problem Gambling – 518-867-4084

NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services – 877-8-HOPENY

Gambler’s Anonymous – 213-386-8789

For more information on the above, or if you would like to schedule a presentation on problem gambling, please call the Prevention Council of Saratoga County – 518-581-1230.


Respectfully Submitted,
Maria Geizer
Home Instead Senior Care