Best Practices for the Treatment of Older Adult Problem Gamblers

• Published in: Journal of gambling issues 2018-09 (39)
• Main Authors: Skinner, W. J. Wayne, Littman-Sharp, Nina, Leslie, Jane, Ferentzy, Peter, Zaheer, Salaha, Quosai, Trudy Smit, Sztainert, Travis, Mann, Robert E, McCready, John
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1910-7595; 1910-7595
• DOI: 10.4309/jgi.2018.39.6

Whereas the proportion of older adults who experience gambling problems appears relatively small, factors such as cognitive changes with age, social isolation and maintaining fixed incomes can make older adults particularly susceptible to gambling problems, increasing the severity of the consequences they may experience. Relatively few resources are available that are directed specifically to older adults with gambling problems. This report identifies, based on the knowledge and evidence currently available, Best Practices for treating gambling problems among older adults intended for practitioners, patients, families, policy makers and others concerned with this population. A team of gambling researchers and experienced clinicians first identified overarching conceptual frameworks to guide the work. The researchers then shaped a set of Best Practices that was reviewed by a working group developing Best Practices for preventing gambling problems among older adults. Based on their feedback, the authors created a final set of Best Practices. This process was informed at all stages by a systematic review of the literature, evidence from a recent population survey of gambling among Ontario older adults, and ongoing review by practice experts. These guidelines focus on five areas: (1) person-centred and family-focused care, (2) screening and assessment, (3) secondary prevention and early intervention, (4) tertiary prevention and specialized treatment, and (5) ongoing support and recovery resources. Limitations include the paucity of studies specifically on gambling and older adults. We offer these as the most current clinical guidelines for those clinicians and researchers working with older adults, in anticipation of evolving Best Practices as new evidence and consequent greater knowledge become available.RésuméBien que la proportion de personnes âgées ayant des problèmes de jeu semble relativement faible, des facteurs tels que les changements cognitifs avec l’âge, l’isolement social et des revenus fixes peuvent rendre les adultes plus vulnérables aux problèmes de jeu, ce qui augmente la gravité des conséquences. Il existe relativement peu de ressources disponibles destinées spécifiquement aux personnes âgées ayant des problèmes de jeu. Selon les connaissances et les données probantes actuellement disponibles, ce rapport fait l’inventaire des meilleures pratiques pour traiter les problèmes de jeu chez les personnes âgées, pratiques qui sont destinées aux prati