Seniors and Gambling

Gambling has increasingly become a form of recreation for older adults. Some 68% of Canadian seniors gamble, and around 2.1% have moderate to severe gambling-related problems (Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse).

The legalization of gaming establishments, increased access, greater social acceptance and increases in disposable time and money have all rendered seniors more susceptible to the "roll of the dice." Seniors are targeted because of the tremendous market they represent for the gaming industry, and because they’re more likely to be tempted by incentive campaigns, such as cheap day-time transportation, free hotel stays, special promotions and free lunches.

Seniors gamble for a variety of reasons -- for fun, to make money, out of curiosity, or to escape from loneliness, depression, financial difficulties, declining health and emotional loss. The most common gambling activities among older adults include the purchase of lottery and scratch tickets, and playing video lottery terminals, slot machines and bingo.

Seniors are often more vulnerable to gambling addiction because of a number of life factors. For example, they may seek to mask the pain associated with losing a spouse, they may be lonely or depressed or they may be facing financial or health problems. These factors can predispose a senior to the hypnotic, anaesthetizing effect of gambling.

Gambling is also much more acceptable and accessible now than it was a few decades ago. No longer a shady, illegal activity conducted in back rooms, ‘gaming’ (as the government euphemistically calls it) is now a legitimate form of recreation and entertainment. Governments tout the benefits of gambling, but they too are addicted: lotteries pump dollars into government coffers for education, sports, health care. Casinos pay taxes that improve roads, support schools and promote tourism. No one ever has to go far to find another opportunity to gamble, whether it is a lottery, a casino or a horse-racing track. Internet gambling via poker sites is readily available; and as this trend becomes more widespread with the inclusion of other ‘gaming sports’, seniors can now gamble without leaving their lazy-boy.

While most people can enjoy gambling without consequences, the lure of quick money can have devastating financial effects on seniors because they have little or no opportunity to recuperate from their losses. In Alberta it was reported that VLTs and casino gambling are partly to blame for the huge 15% bankruptcy rate among seniors. Similar to substance addictions, gambling may start out innocently as a social engagement, but for some people can progress into a solitary activity, then into a habit, a secret, a loss of control and finally, an addiction crisis.

Among older gamblers who file for personal bankruptcy, most view their problem as a financial issue rather than one of addiction and therefore do not seek the help they need. Compulsive or pathological gambling extends beyond losing money -- the disorder interferes with normal life activities and responsibilities, threatens physical health, sabotages reputations, and leads to psychological distress, and often suicide. Though the reported percentage of seniors with gambling and substance abuse issues is low, many hide their problem due to shame of straying so far from their deep-seeded cultural values of hard work, frugality and moderation.

Thanks to Age-Friendly Business for assistance with this article. Article by Alex Handyside, CPCA

Red Flags of an Investment Seminar Scam

Falling victim to a fraudulent investment scheme can mean losing anywhere from a few hundred dollars to your life savings. While most people might not see the harm in sitting through an investment seminar, the Better Business Bureau recommends researching the investment company first, rather than run the risk of falling for a financial siren song over a free lunch.

Investment scams and schemes can come in many forms and a common technique to lure people in is the offer of a free financial seminar over lunch. In one recent case, scammers invited senior citizens to estate planning seminars and later coaxed their victims into buying promissory notes for purported foreign country investments.  Free-lunch seminars can seem like an easy way to get a meal, but attendees run the risk of being drawn in by the slick presentations and promises of big returns. Unscrupulous seminars often lure in leisurely senior citizens who have time and exploitable retirement accounts and real estate.

When listening to an investment pitch, BBB recommends looking for the following red flags:
1.) They require a large up-front investment. Untrustworthy schemers might try to convince investors to pay a large amount of money upfront so they can get out of town with a large haul, rather than wait for the funds to trickle in.
2.) They promise high returns for low risk. Every investment comes with a level of risk. Typically, the amount of risk increases in line with the potential return on the investment. If the seminar is trying to sell an investment scheme that claims a high return with little or no risk, beware, even if it comes with the promise of a money-back guarantee.
3.) They employ high-pressure sales tactics. Seminar leaders often use high-pressure sales tactics to get people to sign up without thinking it through. They might claim that there are only a few spots left or that you need to get in on the ground floor today to see the largest earnings. Any reputable investment company will let you take your time and do your research and will not pressure you into signing a cheque. 
4.) Investments rely on offshore investments. Many hucksters try to give their scheme an air of sophistication by relying on overseas investments, such as foreign currency, property, stocks and bonds. They also might claim, incorrectly, that you can avoid taxes by investing overseas.
5.) It sounds too good to be true. At the end of the day, if the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always listen to your instincts because the potential payoff is rarely worth the risk.

 Reprinted with Permission, Senior Living Magazine             
Article By Better Business Bureau

Alcohol and Heart Disease

Q. As a health-conscious “Boomer”, I understand about diet and exercise, but I am confused about alcohol use and heart disease. Some articles seem to say drinking is beneficial, others that it is harmful. Please clarify.

A. This is a timely question as we emerge from the holiday season, because cardiac epidemiologists have long recognised the “Holiday Heart Syndrome” - - an upsurge in heart attacks during periods of celebration with increased alcohol consumption.

A recently-published study in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) casts some interesting light on the question. European researchers compared the effects of “binge drinking” and “moderate drinking” among 10,000 subjects from Ireland and France. (NOTE: “Binge drinking” is defined as 5 drinks for men and 4 for women on one occasion. “Moderate drinking” is 2 drinks per day for men and 1 for women. The type of beverage is not important. Alcohol is alcohol is alcohol.) The study found that binge drinkers, the Irish group had TWICE the risk of heart attack or death as well as other problems related to reduced blood flow.

In short, high level alcohol consumption at sporadic intervals (special occasion binging, if you like) is HARMFUL to heart health, whereas regular, “moderate” drinking is often beneficial. Some cardiologists feel that the key difference is that heavier, ‘episodic’ drinking causes inflammation of the lining of cardiac blood vessels, but “moderate” drinking simply improves blood flow. And so, the issue is HOW you drink.    

Pardon, Say That Again Please

“Pardon?” is what many of us say when we don’t hear something clearly. But all too often, seniors with hearing loss just give up saying ‘pardon’ and become reclusive. 69% of seniors suffer from hearing loss.
It’s often said that losing your hearing is worse than losing your sight. Age-related hearing loss may be inevitable for most, but it doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about it. Hearing aid technology has come a long way in the last five years.
But let’s step back a moment and look at hearing loss. There are two kinds: conductive (of the outer and middle ear, which is usually temporary and treatable) and sensorineural (of the inner ear, which is usually permanent and will likely require a hearing instrument). A few seniors suffer from both types. Of course, prevention is better than cure, but I won’t discuss prevention here. Your GP can help with conductive hearing loss, but you’ll need to see a qualified specialist (an Audiologist) to assess and correct sensori-neural hearing loss. Do not be tempted to order a hearing aid by mail-order – the chances of a satisfactory outcome are very low.
The treatment of hearing loss can improve: intimacy and warmth in family relationships, communication in relationships, perception of mental functioning, sense of control over life events, emotional stability, physical health, and group social participation.
Just as important is that treatment can help reduce: discrimination toward the person with the hearing loss, depression, hearing loss compensation behaviours (pretending you hear), anger and frustration in relationships, feelings of paranoia, anxiety, social phobias and self-criticism.
Hearing aids don’t just amplify sound, they clarify the sounds you want to hear, and some even minimize (filter) the sounds you don’t.
The leading reason why seniors don’t take corrective action is stigma, followed by inadequate information, and the belief that nothing can be done. Of course, cost is an issue: few insurance policies cover hearing aids, and the government provides little help if any (though DVA does help veterans). Your GP can arrange a hearing test, but a private one costs less than $50 and waiting time is minimal.
Just about everyone who tries an aid likes it. Most wonder how they ever got along without it! A qualified Audiologist can show you – literally – what you’ve been missing all these years. The difference will astound you!
I would like to thank Dr.David Lyon of Audiology Associates, Dartmouth, for his invaluable help with this article. 
By, Alex Handyside,  CPCA

Workaholics Day

According to Wikipedia, “An ergomaniac or workaholic is a person who is addicted to work."

Do you know one… or a few?

Maybe you are now… or were one yourself?

Being passionate about your career, your business, or your job is a good thing.  But, when it interferes with your family, your social life, or your health… it turns from a good thing to a dangerous thing.

I am not here to convince yourself of the detrimental effects of working 80+ hours a week – you probably know it, or aren’t willing to admit that it applies to you.

I would like to share a few ideas that may help you get more done in less time (whether or not you are a workaholic or not, these will still help you get more done).

Technology has made it FAR easier to become a 24x7 workaholic.  The tools are there to keep us plugged into work every waking moment. 

Email at our finger tips.

Phone calls can be made from anywhere (including your child’s or grandchild’s school or sporting events).

You may be at the event, but your child will see you working while there… defeating the entire purpose of you being there for them.

So I want to challenge you to try a few new things in the coming week:

1) 1.) Become a chunker.  Work in uninterrupted time chunks of 30 minutes.  Block off 30 minute chunks through your day – at least 4 of them.  2 hours of your day isn’t much to ask if it saves a relationship or your health. Plan out what exactly you will work on during that chunk.  And block out everything else. No phones. No email. No chat fests with colleagues. Just you and your project, and 30 minutes of uninterrupted time.  Use a timer to keep yourself on track.   Promise me you will try this?  You can get FAR more done in a 30 minute chunk of time than hours of ‘multi-tasking’ All the scientific research proves this as true

2) 2.)  Use the chunking method with those you love as well.  Book off time to be with them and promise them you will NOT check email or answer your phone during that time. The punishment if you do?  Cash – you pay them $20 for every offence. That will help!

3) 3.)  Find an accountability partner that can help you stick to the plan. Talk to them once a day for 5 minutes – reporting in on how you are doing and where you faltered. Admitting your mistakes publicly, regularly will help you see how bad it has become.

There, 3 simple tips that anyone can try out.

Are you up for the challenge?

Will you give it a go for a week, at a minimum?

Good – now block off some times for your chunking – and stick to the plan.

It will do far more for your health, your relationships, and your productivity than anything else.

Try it and let me know how it works out…please.

Feelings of Guilt

A common emotion among family caregivers is guilt:
• Not doing enough for the person they are caring for or not doing it well enough.
• Feeling angry, resentful or frustrated about their situation.
• Taking time off for themselves.
• Not spending enough time with the person to whom they are providing care.
• Not having enough time for other family members (children, spouse).
• Living in another town and not being there when they are needed.
• Bringing in outside help to assist them with caregiving.
• Their family member moving into a care facility because they can no longer be safely cared for at home.
Even the most effective caregiver can find something to feel guilty about. Feelings of guilt, however, drain time, energy and emotion - all three of which are already at a premium for family caregivers.
Guilt arises when there is a gap between the way family caregivers are and the way they perceive they should be. They spend time berating themselves for what they see as failure instead of focusing on the caring and compassion they bring to a family member’s situation. When energy is focused on how things “should” be, it’s more difficult to find solutions for the actual situation.
Sometimes, guilt allows people to feel “good” while doing something that they judge as wrong or inappropriate. Or perhaps guilt comes from helplessness because they can’t do anything about their family member’s illness or disability.
Look beyond the guilt. Caregivers should ask themselves, “Where are my guilty feelings coming from?” and “What are these feeling telling me?”
Once those underlying feelings are recognized, we can see our situation from another perspective and address it directly as needed. Guilt is fostered by unrealistic expectations of what we are capable of doing, as well as what we imagine we should be doing. It is important to remind ourselves that we are doing the best we can at the time with what we know. Given the tools we had to work with, we used our best judgment and made caregiving decisions we truly felt were in the best interest of all concerned.
Sometimes guilt is the result of another person’s comments or actions. However, someone else cannot make us feel guilty if we are not already feeling that way internally. Their comment pushes a button we installed ourselves - so it highlights what we are already feeling. If we change our internal perceptions and expectations, and accept that we are doing our best, then they cannot trigger our guilt.
Moving beyond guilt to acceptance and self-forgiveness will make us more relaxed and confident caregivers. Guilt seldom achieves any positive outcomes.
Article by, Barbara Small
Reprinted with Permission by Senior Living Magazine

Long Term Care

Since I am involved with seniors and the health care system to the degree I am through my company, Seniors Consulting, I am concerned about getting long-term care insurance.

In the future, I am sure that the responsibility for paying for a seniors’ care will increasingly fall to the seniors and their families. Even now many families do not have the financial resources to assist with the care of their elderly parents. Future seniors should not plan to rely on their families to contribute to the cost of their care. The future seniors to whom I am referring are people who are currently 65 years of age and younger, although it is not too late for the current seniors to get long-term care insurance.

As with most types of insurance, the premium price increases as the person gets older. Also, the likelihood of qualifying for the insurance decreases as health conditions increase with age. We are living longer and need to be able to deal with the financial burden for medical treatment, health care and quality of life. There is a real chance that we might need to enter a long term care facility or receive special medical attention, especially towards the end of our lives.
Depending on the level of care you may want or need, the cost may not be paid by your government health plan. Many families are now realizing the amount of care that an elderly parent requires.

As we age we should be prepared to have the resources to pay for our care whether it is in our home or in a long term care facility. There will also likely be fewer people available to care for us, so that may be another cost to get skilled people to care for us.

Long-term care insurance helps cover the costs of the services and support necessary to maintain the day-to-day care should a chronic illness or cognitive impairment keep you from being able to perform the activities of daily living. Some examples of the activities of daily living are dressing, feeding, toileting, transferring, continence and bathing. Or we may need continual supervision because of deteriorated mental ability. Homemaking services are meal preparation, cleaning and laundry.

Even if you do have family available to assist, many seniors do not want their children to help them with toileting or bathing. Care may be provided in the home, the community or in a facility that provides long term care.  A long term care facility has services performed by or under the continual supervision of a physician or registered nurse in the facility 24 hours a day. The long-term care facility must be the insured person’s primary place of residence while they remain physically dependent.
Various insurance companies offer long-term Care insurance, each with its own options. Now is the time to research long-term care insurance. Younger people should also consider this insurance as they would more likely qualify and their premiums would be lower.

Article by, Sharen Marteny, CPCA