I am not some Pollyanna by any means. But I think this so called activity is terribly wrong.
Many meds can inhibit what was once good judgement. Onset of dementia, yet to be diagnosed, can too. I think this practice by AL facilities is just appalling.
I agree with you. This sort of outing sounds like "too much fun" for those with compromised judgement. Not all seniors in AL are compromised for sure, but it's too difficult to separate the sheep from the goats on this issue; i.e. who gets to go and who stays home. Seems like there ought to be more appropriate outings for seniors.
I Am not a gambler either. I have been to Vegas once many years ago. I thought it tacky and tawdry. I have been to one of the 5 casinos here. I thought the same.
I would have gone to Woodstock though. Too young.
So the casino has a bus nice & new (with potties) with a driver that the casino provides at minimal or no cost. And the casino maybe gives each passenger a free buffet ticket, a couple of other comps....like drink tickets, or tote bags, or koozies or some other swag. You do NOT have to gamble. You do NOT have to hit the slots. If you want to sit in the lobby, or at a bar, or see a show instead you can.
If your really creative, you get your kids or old friends to meet you at the casino and get to visit and dine or just hang for the day, partially on someone else’s dime. Where I am, in New Orleans, we’re basically surrounded by casinos; all very different personalities or vibes whether in Louisiana or on the MS coast. One has a golf course, so in theory you could play a round instead of being on the gaming floor. Another has a horse race track so you could do that or go down to the OTB and watch the ponies at other tracks instead of sitting in front of a slot machine. The one in Gulfport has folks taking cabs over to the outlet mall. Two of the MS coast ones are true resorts with full spa, multiple dining, entertainment and shopping options. The one downtown NOLA has a very upscale mall with Saks on the Fr Qtr side and a Neimans Last Call in the more outlet mall on the Central business district side. You can just cross the street and shop and ignore the gaming floor totally. Or go across other street to the Aquarium & Woldenberg park on the River. But you take the bus to casino and then back to the AL or IL. Casino prefers you sit at the slots & loose $ but you don’t have to.
If their in iL or AL, in theory, they should be ok on their ADLs so can go & do. They aren’t chained to the slots; they end up there as it’s the easiest things to default to.
What is interesting on casinos is that they are very very much ADA handicapped friendly. From ramps that they do at the entrances that connect to the bus doors to the casino walkway; to grab bars throughout the entire property; to tables designed for wheelchair arms to slip underneath at the restaurants. As an outing, I see it as a “win” for all involved. Pun intended!
All gaming states are required to have 1-800 gambling help call in programs too.
Because most do not have any other option than slots.
You said
I don't have a problem with it. I'm sure they have an aide who accompanies them and keeps on eye on them.
An aide? Lol
I can't even with that one.
Many folks in AL don’t all have dementia and are in full control of their minds and finances. If it’s their choice to go I say why not?
An AL isn’t a nursing home. It’s a bunch of seniors that are still able to have a good time. I don’t think the AL staff need to monitor them much unless they are forgetful.
I’m sure they’re not inviting the AL residents into the VIP game area where bets are the sky’s the limit. The seniors usually get a roll of quarters or something to play the slots. Then go to the buffet for lunch or dinner.
Its a day out, and should be fun. To say seniors shouldn’t be allowed to gamble is not right.
After a certain age, and with certain conditions, there are little-to-no opportunities for vibrant grownup outings. If a senior in placement is unable to participate, then the facility likely won't allow them to go. If it's a facility field trip, they won't be there long enough to go broke or drunk.
I do wish there were more non-casino options out there. But I'd be loath to deny the willing and able an occasional casino outing.
If they are supervised or still at the mental state to enjoy it, why not?
And I also agree that taking people who can no longer even calculate how far the odds are stacked against them seems like inviting them to have fun throwing their money away.
But. If you have in your facility certain residents who have always *enjoyed* visiting casinos and having a little flutter and who get an enormous amount of social fun out of it, I would think it wrong to stop them doing it. I would expect the trip organisers to put rules in place to limit the losses; and I would also expect them to work with the casino management on this. That way, the worst that can happen is they've spent a few dollars each on a nice day out - does it matter where the money went?