Gambling Behaviors Among Oxford House Residents: A Preliminary Investigation

ABSTRACT

The present study investigated the prevalence of gambling behaviors among 71 individuals recovering from substance-dependent disorders and living in self-run recovery homes (Oxford Houses). Residents were given the South Oaks Gambling Screen to assess gambling behaviors and pathological gambling, and 19.7% of the sample was identified as having probable pathological gambling. These residents reported proportionately more involvement in a variety of gambling behaviors than other residents. Engagement in various gambling activities was consistent with previous investigations and suggested that self-run recovery homes such as Oxford Houses might be suitable referral sources for recovering persons who have comorbid gambling problems.     

The relationship between gambling accessibility and Hong Kong people's participation in gambling activities

Prior foreign research showed significant positive relationship between geographical accessibility, gambling advertising and gambling behaviors. This paper, using data from two studies, describes and discusses the change in prevalence of gambling in Hong Kong with the liberalization of gambling activities in Macau. Results mirror the findings of foreign studies. Analysis showed that the groups who indicated that they were mostly influenced by the increased number of Macau casinos and gambling advertising were those aged 20–39, those with tertiary or above education, and the problem and pathological gamblers. Policy makers and gaming operators' effort to implement responsible gambling policies to prevent gambling addiction are discussed.     

Pathological Gambling and Treatment Outcomes for Adults Age 50 or Older in Methadone Maintenance Treatment

This study examined the relationship of pathological gambling to negative treatment outcomes for methadone maintenance patients aged 50 or older. The study included 130 methadone maintenance patients. Pathological gambling was determined using the Lie-Bet, a screen for pathological gambling; the outcomes were remaining in treatment and negative urine screens for drug use. Twenty percent of the sample identified as pathological gamblers. Pathological gambling was unrelated to remaining in treatment or negative urine screens. Although pathological gambling had no adverse influence on these treatment outcomes, the prevalence of pathological gambling suggests that screening for it may provide insights about other concerns.     

The Impact of Legalization on Illegal Gambling Participation

This paper examines the effects of legalization on illegal gambling participation using a multivariate analysis to adjust for the influence of demographic variables. In addition, the incidence of illegal gambling in a nationwide sample was compared with the incidence reported by Nevada residents. Games with similar structures and psychological characteristics appear to be complementary. That is, people who participate in one tend to participate in the other as well, regardless of their legal status. Dissimilar games operate as substitutes for each other.     

Prevalence of gambling problems among adolescents in the Nordic countries: an overview of national gambling surveys 1997–2009

Kristiansen S, Jensen SM. Prevalence of gambling problems among adolescents in the Nordic countries: an overview of national gambling surveys 1997–2009 Int J Soc Welfare 2011: 20: 75–86 © 2009 The Author(s), Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare. The study presents an overview of prevalence studies focusing on problem and pathological gambling among adolescent populations in the Nordic countries. Past‐year prevalence of problem gambling among adolescents in the Nordic countries ranges from 0.4 per cent (Denmark) to 4.2 per cent (Sweden). Past‐year prevalence of pathological gambling ranges from 0.1 per cent (Denmark) to 1.76 per cent (Norway). Results from the Nordic countries also show that boys gamble more than girls, older adolescents gamble more than younger adolescents and that, as shown in adult prevalence surveys, problem gambling is more widespread among adolescents than among adults. It is concluded that investigations of gambling problems among adolescents in the Nordic countries differ regarding age groups, sampling procedures, response rates, nomenclature and screening instruments, all of which complicates valid comparisons. More collaboration between researchers from different countries is urged in order to improve comparability between national studies.     

Determinants of residential Firewise behaviors in Central Oregon

As a result of climate change and past management practices, wildfires are becoming larger and occurring more frequently than ever before in the Western U.S. In order to mitigate the effects of this growing threat, fire management agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service have encouraged residents in at-risk communities to protect their homes, property and communities by adopting Firewise recommendations. Using annual random sample household surveys conducted in fire-prone central Oregon from 2011 to 2013, this study examines the impact of wildfire events (i.e., wildfire exposure and evacuation), risk perception, wildfire plan informedness, proximity to wildlands, and various demographic factors on resident Firewise behavior participation. Findings indicate that residents who have experienced a wildfire event, who are familiar with their county’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan, who perceive wildfire risk to their community, and who live in proximity or within a wildland area, were significantly more likely to engage in Firewise behaviors than those residents without these experiences, orientations or household locations.     

Facility Organizational and Facility Resident Characteristics in Nursing Homes Serving Residents With a Mental Health History

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of mental health disorders among nursing home residents has been noted. The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics among nursing homes serving residents with a mental health history. A retrospective, cross-sectional design was conducted using the 2003 national Online Survey, Certification, and Reporting facility data merged with the resident-level Minimum Data Set resulting in 2,499 nursing homes. Across facilities, 22% of the total residents had a diagnosis of a mental disorder not including any form of dementia. Among those with a mental health history, 53% of facility residents had depression and 37% had schizophrenia.     

Senior Gambling: Risk or Reward?

For a growing number of older adults, a day outing to a local casino has become one of the more enjoyable and accessible opportunities for socialization and entertainment. Unfortunately, for some older adults this growing pastime increases their risk for developing a gambling problem or, worse yet, a gambling addiction. The consequences of problematic gambling behaviors for individuals living on a fixed income require greater attention by social work researchers, practitioners, and providers of senior services. The development and implementation of a Gambling Education Workshop for older adults attending senior centers in a large metropolitan area, along with qualitative interviews with a sample of workshop participants, are reported in this article. Among the findings from this project are the needs for greater awareness of the risk factors associated with problematic gambling, as well as greater awareness among older adults about the consequences associated with gambling.     

Comparing Perceived Quality of Life in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities

Abstract

Residents 65 years old and older living in nursing homes (NH) and assisted living facilities (ALFs) were matched on a scale of functional ability: The Sickness Impact Profile for Nursing Homes (SIP-NH). Of the 97 NH and 100 ALF residents who were evaluated using the SIP-NH, 43 pairs, matched by level of disability, were formed. Each member of the 43 pairs was administered two quality of life instruments: the Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index (QLI), as well as a single direct question regarding quality of life. Matched pair t-tests revealed no differences in quality of life scores, contrary to the hypothesis that the matched residents in nursing homes would have perceptions of a lower quality of life than residents of assisted living facilities.     

公职人员赌博中的腐败行为分析

公职人员赌博被人称为“桌面上的腐败”。文章全面分析了公职人员赌博中的种种腐败行为,剖析其成因,阐述其危害,最后从多个角度提出遏制公职人员赌博中腐败行为的有效措施。     

Informal Caregivers of Institutionalized Dementia Residents

When older adults are placed in nursing homes, care- giving responsibility continues, despite long held beliefs to the con- trary. Although the American family is in transition, bonds of care- giving and of filial responsibility are strong and persist into old age. Knowledge about characteristics of caregivers who have actually placed their relative in a nursing home is limited. The purpose of this study is to examine whether demographic and facility-related char- acteristics as well as knowledge about dementia and participation in support groups and workshops are signif~cant predictors of burden in caregivers of institutionalized dementia residents. Sixty-seven per- cent of caregivers of residents in a dementia unit in a nursing home participated in the study. Overall, the regression explained 68% of the variance in burden and was highly simcant statistically. In- formation gained from this study will assist social workers in mak- ing referrals to nursing homes or in direct practice with cognitively impaired nursing home residents and their families.     

Psychological Vulnerability and Gambling in Later Life

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Because behavioral problems often emerge from maladaptive coping methods, we investigated whether unmet basic psychological needs evolve toward a level of psychological vulnerability that puts older adults who gamble at risk for becoming problem gamblers. Methods: Data from a community sample of 379 adults ages 60 and above were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Participants responded to items regarding their demographics, gambling frequency, engagement in at-risk gambling behaviors, and the extent to which their basic psychological needs were met. Results: Satisfaction of basic psychological needs among older adults who gamble was negatively associated with their being at risk for developing a gambling problem. Satisfaction of basic psychological needs also mediated the negative effect of socioeconomic status on at-risk gambling behavior. Conclusion: Social workers should become mindful of how older adults, who are confronting psychological vulnerabilities in later life, might well turn to gambling as a maladaptive coping mechanism.As per journal style, abstract must not exceed100 words. Please amend accordingly.     

Predictors of gambling problems among male adolescents

The study concerns prediction of gambling problems in 178 male adolescents (aged 16 and 18 years) who completed a questionnaire, which included the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), a version of the Temperament and Character Inventory and a number of questions concerning social background, emotional and life-style factors. About 27% of the boys gamble at least weekly. As many as 16% qualify as probable pathological gamblers according to the SOGS. Another 7% are at risk. None of the social background factors are related to severity of gambling problems. The only significant family factor is parental substance misuse. The optimal multivariate model predicts about 30% of the variance in gambling problems. The strongest factor is frequency of alcohol drinking. Several factors indicate a personality with problems in relations to others. Another factor indicates a dreamy personality. Unexpectedly, impulsiveness is not related to gambling. In conclusion, problem gambling among male adolescents is related to life-style and personality, especially in relation to others, but not to usual social background factors. Gamblers are asocial rather than impulsive. The nature of this finding should be further explored, since an asocial personality may point at genetics as well as to early social influences, as may the finding on the relation between gambling and parental drinking.     

Community Integration of the Elderly in Foster Family Care

Currently the care of the elderly is part of a nationwide trend of deinstitutionalization. However, community placement of formerly institutionalized clients, particularly through the mental hygiene system, has in some instances met with negative community response. Extent of resident participation in the community and degree of community acceptance were studied through interviews with caretakers ir) 100 foster homes, housing one to four clients over 60. More than 3/4 of the residents were reported as having met neighbors. One-third of the residents take walks in the neighborhood, with an additional 2/5 visiting in the neighborhood. One-third participate in activities such as senior centers or church groups. Contrary to expectation, those homes associated with the mental hygiene system reported greater participation in community activities than did those sponsored by the social services system. Negative response from the community occurred in only about 10% of homes. Thus, foster family care appears to show promise both for community integration of the elderly and for community acceptance of the deinstitutionalized.     

‘Pushing buttons‘: an evaluation of the effect of Aboriginal income management on commercial gambling expenditure

The Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 was a radical intervention into the lives of Aboriginal residents of the Northern Territory, Australia. One of the intervention's key measures was income management – a scheme designed to limit the range of goods and services that may be purchased with social security payments. The aim of income management was to curb 'anti‐social behaviours' such as excessive gambling and alcohol consumption. In this paper, we specifically test the efficacy of income management in reducing the amount spent on commercial gambling. To achieve this we conduct an interrupted time series analysis with deflated monthly electronic gaming machine (EGM) expenditure data from July 2002 to July 2010 for hotels and clubs in the towns of Alice Springs and Katherine. We find a negative association between income management and EGM revenues for only one gambling venue in each town. However, local complexity in the form of segregated markets along temporal, spatial and racial lines, along with other policy confounders, may obscure the effects of the macro‐policy intervention. We conclude by making suggestions for locally‐based responses to problematic forms of risky consumption that may be more sensitive to local geographies.     

Hypothesis Testing of CNA Perceptions of Organizational Culture in Long Term Care

This commentary for the special issue on research that went wrong describes a study that explored factors that contribute to variability within Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) on organizational safety culture. We know from previous research that CNAs provide most direct care in nursing homes and that direct care workers often experience agency culture differently from agency management (Wolf et al., 2014). We were looking for factors that nursing homes could alter to improve the culture for CNAs, and thus, residents. We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected via a multi-component paper survey of CNAs employed in long term care. We used results from the Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture and primary shift, type of unit, and years as a CNA to identify modifiable characteristics that would explain variability in the perceptions of patient safety culture. The final sample included n = 106 from three nursing homes. Dimension scores were compared using bivariate tests appropriate to the scale and ordinal logistic regression. Despite support in the literature for the hypothesis, we found few significant differences on the total scale within groups. Differences in perceptions have implications for quality of care and the experiences of residents within nursing homes.     

北京市社会办养老院入住老人生活状况及满意度调查分析

随着社会福利社会化及相关政策的出台,社会办养老院迅速发展起来,机构养老方式也逐渐为更多的老人所接受。在养老院数量快速增加的同时,其服务质量也应得到及时的关注。本文在对北京市社会办养老院入住老人生活状况和满意度问卷调查的基础上,分析了入住老人的生活质量和支持网络,并且从服务使用者的角度探析社会办养老院的服务状况和服务质量,并藉此对此类养老院近期的发展提出建议。     

Quality of nursing home care in Cyprus: are elder residents content with their treatment?

Responding to a conspicuous dearth of knowledge on the quality of elder services in Cyprus, this study ventured to document Cypriot elders' feelings and experiences with nursing home care in Cyprus. Explicitly, four different types of nursing homes were called on (a governmental, a community-run, a faith-based, and a private one) to interview residents (n = 73; a response rate of 100%). Results suggest that Cypriot elders are clearly content with the level of primary care they receive in nursing homes, as mirrored in the quality of nutrition, medical treatment, staff professionalism, and sanitation of nursing home environment. However, the preponderance of residents feels loneliness and denial of essential entertainment opportunities in these institutions and a consequential motivational depletion. Finding implications for domestic and international policy, social work practice, and future research are explored.     

The role of family care-givers for an older person resident in a care home

Summary A sample of 61 relatives of residents admitted during the precedingthree years to 35 independent sector nursing or residentialcare homes in four local authority areas was interviewed. Thissample included spouses, daughters and sons. Five discrete rolesfor family care-givers in the care homes were described: checkingthe quality of care, companionship, handling the cared-for personwith personal care. Although family care-givers described themselvesas very satisfied with the care homes as a whole, as many ashalf were worried about some aspect of care. A third of theoffspring felt that their relationship with the cared-for personhad improved following the admission to a care home. None ofthe spouses felt this to be the case and most felt that theirrelationship had deteriorated. Spouses tended to visit veryfrequently. Unlike offspring, spouses rarely took the cared-forperson out of the care home. Because of the lack of privacy,visits could be a difficult experience. Those wanting to continuegiving their partner practical support were discouraged by stafffrom doing so. The research has implications for social workers,care home proprietors and registration and inspection unitsin encouraging care homes to adopt more 'relative friendly'policies.     

The Effects of Group Living in a Residential Home for the Elderly

Summary The group-living system of care is becoming increasingly popularin residential homes for the elderly. This study examined purposefulactivity, as measured by engagement, in one such home beforeand after changeover to group living. It was found that engagementwas significantly increased after the changeover. In addition,life satisfaction was increased and orientation unchanged bythe changeover in a small sample of residents. These resultsare interpreted as supportive for the effectiveness of groupliving.