Some posters have said their parents have been addicted to gambling. I am curious why facilities take the elderly to casinos on a bus for a day trip.
How does this work? Do they limit the amount of money they spend? Are the facilities concerned about addiction?
Look at shopping, drinking, drugs, gambling, the internet, television, pornography, etc. Anything can become an addiction. My brother got hooked at young age giving into peer pressure but I do think with some people it could be a genetic thing.
I am supportive of arts and music activities for seniors though. Both are stimulating but also soothing, and they're creative. The costs of materials go to suppliers, as opposed to people promoting what I consider potentially addictive and intellectual wasteland activities.'
Yes, I'm very opinionated about this.
All of a sudden, she went dramatically downhill one day about a month ago, probably due to a stroke. She became wheelchair bound, was totally silent, and began to drool. Within 2 weeks she passed away. The last great memory Fred had was that last Thursday he'd taken his beloved wife to the casino to play the nickel slot machines.
A bus day trip to a casino can be a lot of fun. First, getting out and seeing the sites during the bus ride. Second, socialization during the bus trip and meal/restroom stops. Third, those residents not wanting to gamble can attend a show. Most of the residents in the AL adjacent to my father's MC actually went on these twice a year trips for the shows and maybe play a few slots.
The AL I know about did allow residents with MCI to attend casino trips; however, there were safeguards in place. One, the AL required residents to decide how much money they wanted to spend at the casino and for meals prior to the trip and loaded debit cards (one for casino and one for off bus meals); residents agreed not to take other credit or bank cards. Please realize Medicaid residents use their monthly allotment or family support to fund these trips. The AL also has activity money funded by fees and donations that were occasionally used to fund trips for residents who could not otherwise afford them. Total cost for two restaurant meals and two 90 minute casino shows and some snacks plus $10 for slots was $100. Two, by agreement the casino only accepted the debit cards and did not extend credit offers to the AL residents. Typical schedule was bus leaving AL around 8:30, stopping for a brunch around 10:30, arriving at the casino around noon and departing around 4:00, stopping for an early supper around 4:30, and arriving back at the AL around 8:00p. It was a full day and almost everyone slept during the bus ride back to the AL. It's like a field trip for seniors.
https://www.agingcare.com/questions/my-99-year-mother-has-become-addicted-to-chocolate-and-has-gained-over-20-lbs-in-the-last-2-months-455347.htm?orderby=recent
That said, they do NOT take dementia residents who live in Memory Care to casinos. Of course that would be ridiculous. Some regular ALFs DO take the residents who WANT TO GO to the casinos, and of course they don't limit their spending! Just as they do not limit what they eat or even how much they drink at happy hour on Fridays (which they have at my mother's ALF). One lady gets plastered on wine every Friday, but that's her right as well. Sometimes she has to be walked back to her room after happy hour is over, even. But hey, that's her choice again.
If I live to 90 or 93 or 99, I will be damned if my children are going to tell me what to do, what to eat or not eat, or whether or not I am allowed to go to a casino. Their 'inheritance' isn't their inheritance, either, until I'm dead, meaning I am free to spend my money however I'd like. If a person can 'afford' Assisted Living, they can surely 'afford' to waste a little MORE money in the casino once in a while!!!
you seem to assume that everyone there does.
Not to mention it is super easy for the facility, all they need to provide is the transportation.
The only ones that go to the Casinos here are AL residents that are capable. Meaning no dementia and not incontinent I would think. NH/LTC to not provide it. The trip cost maybe $40. During the week this usually includes $20 back and lunch. Most just sit and play the slots. If u have never done a bus trip its fun. Some socializing on the bus. Some fun in the Casino and back home. In Atlantic City you can go out on the Boardwalk. Its a day out for them. There are Casinos quieter than others.
If someone needs a POA to sign for permission, I doubt these people would go. If they can't make decisions, I doubt if they understand how to play the slots. They aren't ur old "one arm bandit" anymore. There are no people that go around making change. Its now change machines and the same cashing in. Its now a receipt you put in a machine and out comes ur money. Really not as much fun. And there is more than one way to win. Hard to find a simple slot machine.