Casinos and Elders-A New Report

Amy Ziettlow, of the Institute for American Values (IAV), has written a recently released report, Seniors in Casino Land: Tough Luck for Older Americans.

According to the report,

IAV and its partners are conducting a series of investigations called “Casino Land: America in an Age of Inequality.” The goal is to understand the meaning and role of casinos in American life—how they work and what they do, the values they embody and transmit, their impact on civil society, their connection to government, and their relationship to the rise of American inequality. This report is a part of that series.

Ms. Ziettlow visited several casinos and “simply sat down next to strangers, asked questions, and listened.” The final section of the report is titled “Why Seniors Matter” and offers an analysis of her experiences as well as a discussion of the contrasts between senior centers and casinos. As a huge fan of senior centers myself, I appreciated this recommendation from her:

Now is the time to expand upon these efforts to create environments that foster fellowship, service, physical activity, healthy eating, and quality connections between seniors and the surrounding local community. The vulnerable aging in society deserve meaningful opportunities for recreation and relaxation that reconnects them to their deepest sense of self; activities that allow them to be honest about disability and loss without being defined and crushed by that awareness, that foster growth in their physical, emotional, and spiritual capabilities. (pg. 42, citations omitted).

 A list of Ms. Ziettlow’s other publications can be accessed here.  Thanks to Naomi Cahn of GW Law for sending this to me.