Understanding and Addressing Problem Gambling in Older Adults
Includes a Live Web Event on 06/18/2025 at 11:00 PM (CDT)
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Register
- General Registration - Free!
Join us on June 18th from 11-12:30 pm CST to learn from Jody Bechtold and Beth Mulvaney on understanding and addressing problem gambling in older adults.
This webinar offers seasoned clinicians a fresh perspective on older adults, particularly Baby Boomers, and their engagement in gambling as a leisure activity and a component of healthy aging. Gerontology social worker, Beth Mulvaney, joins us to provide critical insights into the primary care physician's role, the challenges of effectively screening for problematic gambling, and the interpretation of behaviors often misattributed to dementia. We'll explore why older adults are particularly vulnerable to developing gambling problems, the crucial warning signs to watch for, and practical screening methods. Participants will also learn about diverse treatment options tailored to this population, the significance of responsible gambling strategies, and how to effectively incorporate these techniques when working with older adults.
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
- Identify the risk factors for problem gambling in older adults.
- Recognize the warning signs of problem gambling in older adults.
- Screen for gambling problems in older adults.
- Provide information on treatment options for older adults with gambling problems.
- Educate older adults on responsible gambling strategies.
- Develop strategies for incorporating responsible gambling techniques when working with older adults.
CE Information: Pending approval
This project is funded in whole or in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery.
Jody Bechtold, LCSW, ICGC-II, BACC, IGDC, CGT
CEO
The Better Institute
Jody Bechtold, LCSW, ICGC-II, BACC, IGDC, CGT is a highly regarded gambling addiction expert working extensively across the globe with individuals, organizations, and associations. She is the CEO of The Better Institute, a group practice located in Pittsburgh. She is the co-author of The Gambling Disorder Treatment Handbook: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals (2021) and 2 chapters in the Social Workers Desk Reference v 4 on Gambling and Gaming Disorders, published in 2022. She serves as an Advisor to several startup and non-profits organizations including GamFin, Birches Health, and Seagulls Flock in the Philippines. She also serves as an Emeritus board member for the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB). Jody holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work and has several certifications with the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (ICGC-II, IGDC, BACC, CGT).
When Jody isn’t working, you can find her providing pet therapy with her dog, Hanna, and supporting her husband’s business, Pittsburgh Guitars. Please email jody@betterinstitute.com or visit www.BetterInstitute.com to contact Jody Bechtold, LCSW, ICGC-II, BACC, IGDC, CGT.
Elizabeth Mulvaney
Elizabeth Mulvaney earned her MSW from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BA in psychology from the University of Virginia.
As a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, she focuses primarily on teaching within both the MSW and BASW programs. She holds clinical social work license in Pennsylvania and has 14 years practice experience as a gerontological social worker providing medical, care management, and program administration services, with experience in long-term care including behavioral care planning, dementia care, and end of life care.
Current research and practice interests include geriatric workforce development, interprofessional education, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, ethics, palliative care, and problem gambling prevention for older adults. Mulvaney served as the School’s first Coordinator for the Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education from 2005-2011. She is currently the Chair of its Direct Practice Specialization and its Gerontology Certificates In Community. She serves on the board of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Partnership for Aging as it advocates for our communities to meet the needs of older adults, persons with disabilities and the people who work with them.
