Help For San Fernando Valley Seniors Addicted To Gambling

The problem of gambling addiction affects the elderly just as much as it does younger people. In fact, many elderly people may be even more susceptible to this problem than they might have been when they were younger. A person who has too much time available and who feels isolated could innocently turn to gambling as a pastime. That pastime may quickly turn into an addiction for someone who already has an addictive personality. Countless seniors have more disposable income than people in other age groups, so spending money to feed this problem might not be difficult. The issue may only become apparent to a senior’s loved ones after a large portion of that individual’s assets has been depleted.

Knowing the nature and causes of this problem is important, as is learning how to deal with it once it manifests. If you know a senior in the San Fernando Valley who is showing the signs of a potential gambling addiction, you should help the person to get help as soon as possible. You will find plenty of local public and private resources that can offer assistance. If you aren’t always able to take the elderly person in your life to get the help needed to fight this addiction, remember that you can hire professional caregivers from a licensed San Fernando Valley home care company to assist. The following are some of the gambling addiction assistance resources available in the San Fernando Valley.

Gamblers Anonymous

One of the first resources you may want to check out is Gamblers Anonymous. These meetings are free, and they can be found throughout the general area – your senior might attend a meeting in a city such as Reseda. As mentioned on the home page of the website for Gamblers Anonymous, “The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling”. Your elderly friend or relative will find people of all ages and from all walks of life in these meetings, and innumerable people have found the 12-Step Program to be an invaluable tool for recovery.

AC&CS Advanced Cognitive and Clinical Solutions

This treatment facility in Glendale specializes in treating the geriatric population, so it could be a great place to take a senior with a gambling problem. The fact that the facility specializes in disorders of the elderly means that they should be well equipped to address the specific secondary issues that may result from a senior’s addiction. Gambling is listed as one of the problems that the professionals at this location treat, and they do accept payments on a sliding scale based on income.

Harmony Place

This is a center in Woodland Hills that offers gambling addiction treatment. You may contact them to consult someone who understands the process of combating various kinds of addictions. The professionals at this facility will work with a senior who has the addiction, as well as the person’s doctor and family. This kind of inclusive treatment may be the best strategy when dealing with a behavioral addiction.

Gary M. Larkin, MA, MS, MFT

Gary Larkin offers a wide variety of services, including assistance with addiction and recovery. He has much experience with the 12-Step Programs, so he may be an ideal resource to turn to while also attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings. He specializes in helping individuals, couples, and families – so if family therapy is needed to help your elder to conquer a gambling addiction, making an appointment at this office in Encino may be the best solution.

National Alliance on Mental Illness

You can also consult the website for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The San Fernando Valley chapter offers a wealth of information on its site. You might explore many of the resources listed there to help your beloved senior get the assistance needed to face an addiction to gambling. This site may also prove to be a valuable resource for finding low-cost alternatives to private treatment centers.

A gambling problem should never be overlooked. This kind of issue cannot generally be managed without professional help, so don’t hesitate to explore the options that are available. Fortunately, there are many resources in the San Fernando Valley that you can turn to for assistance with an elder who is suffering from gambling addiction.

Disclaimer: The resources mentioned here are provided as a courtesy to you. They are intended to provide examples to assist in your understanding and learning about the types of resources that may be available. We do not recommend or endorse these or any other third party resources, and you should carefully investigate and review any providers of good or services before doing business with them, and then make your own choices.

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