What ever.... You don't care for the senior citizens any more than you believe in the lord. This bad health law if you can read through the 12,000 + pages of legal bull. Says that if your a elderly, then we will tell you where to go and what to do.
You can shove this bill up your collective.........
I wish they would have had this plan when My Mother was still alive... It was very expensive to have someone live with her full time!!! The only good part was we were able to take it as a tax write off...
All this missinformation! Number One, there are only 2,409 pages in the health care act, not 12,000 plus. Number two; have you read any portion of it? I have been through a good share of it and find nothing to which you speak.
Health Care is something that has been badly needed in this Country for many years and has finally come to pass. There are a lot of improvements to be made in the future but at least we have a start at something that is positive. In the end we will have a healthy America because of it. Like the start of any business venture there is a large capital outlay in the beginning but shortly down the road comes the pay-back and the profit from the undertaking.
Who do you think foots the bill for those that are not insured now. Answer: You with the resources to pay for it do in higher insurance premiums and high cost of medical treatment to cover the expense of those that can't afford it. You have been paying for those that can't afford health care for many years. The health care bill should over time reduce the overall cost of health coverage because all will be paying in to the system and getting the benifits from it.
Don't be so quick to judge something that you know nothing about, I highly suggest that you read through the health care before making false statements concerning it.
I voted for O'Bama as did millions of his supporters did because of his promis of health care reform for all. I did not know if he could deliver on the promis, but he delivered as he said he would.
I am an Independant voter with no party affiliation but I will be voting for those that had the strength and the courage to push us into the future and not knuckel under to the fear mongers and the tea baggers along with the party of NO.
Before you condemn it please look up HR_111_3590_engrossed and see what it has to offer. I think you may have the surprise of your life. It is a lot of reading and research but well worth the effort. Then come November you can make an informed decision based on your own knowledge and not what others are telling you.
lazarous... that is all very well, and I admire your diligence. But money could be SAVED by allowing independent seniors to stay in their own homes, simply with the help of a caregiver to do heavy tasks, (scrubbing floors, vacuuming, lifting heavy objects, etc.).
What is NOT being addressed, it seems (and if you can, help me out here), is that there is no provision for certain inevitabilities of ageing... teeth (they crumble in some who had good dental care when they paid their own dental insurance while working, and were cut off at age 65); hearing (tends to fade especially in distinguishing sounds that blur together; not a volume problem); and vision (glasses.. progressive lenses in fact to help with reading and middle vision work like washing one's own dishes).
Medicare presently provides no help at all for these kinds of problems. The facts as I have researched them is that helpless senior citizens are far outnumbered by seniors who CAN function for themselves but do have inevitable signs, like the above, of physical deterioration.
These folks do not need expensive "assisted living" residences. If the tools of self-sufficiency were covered, the overall health budget would be able to help those much smaller numbers who cannot care for themselves.
My mom worked and paid into Social Security from the time she was 14 years old. This was supposed to be an "insurance policy" for the time when working conventionally was not an option, not because she is enfeebled, but because she is 80 years old. (And if anyone here thinks that Age Discrimination does not exist in these United States, think again.)
She is healthy and youthful looking, and has a sharp mind, but has lost her teeth so cannot chew, has difficulty understanding people who speak rapidly especially on the phone, and most interesting, although she had severe shortsightedness all her life, always wore glasses for distance, now passes drivers' tests (for distance) with no glasses at all... lol but needs readers and separate middle-work glasses hanging by cords around her neck constantly being used back and forth (purchased from Wal-Mart's) which don't last long.
She has no income now except social security.
Thanks to LBJ and subsequent presidents, the Social Security funds which were building nicely were raided for the funds that he and his successors wanted to spend elsewhere. Yet when the FDR presidency set the program up it was supposed to be UNTOUCHABLE by any but its intent: helping seniors who could no longer work, JUST by virtue of their age, and also assist those with those needs of ageing.
It seems to me that Obama is targeting the wrong kind of senior aid: Rather than investing in assisting seniors to self reliance by allowing for the tools they need, he wants to invest in keeping them helpless.
The practicalities of liberal Idealism again miss the boat.
Leave it to MSNBC to keep pulling the Obama bullshi* line! People that go into Long Term Care do not go in because they want to, they go in because they have to!
When my father went into Long Term Care 6 years ago, caring for him had become a 24/7 job. And I wasn't going to have my father's illness and issues kill my mother too! Losing one parent to the horrific conditions of Parkinson's and Dementia was bad enough.
So, since our lousy system will not pay for long-term care in the home, my parents did what everyone should do. They went to court, filed and received complete asset protection from the state, awarded my mom all current and future income of my dad's (social security and pension) to continue to maintain her life, and he went into a Medi-Cal facility which is footing the bill at $10,000 per month!
Now how screwed up is that? The cost of in-home care would probably have been about half that, but Medicaid won't pay for in-home.
And $50.00 a day? You've got to be f-in kidding!!!
CL|ASS has protections (?) to guarentee solvency for 75 years. yeah and I believe in the Easter bunny and santa. The protections for Social security sure worked didn't they. government protections = we lose and much before 75 years. Obama must think we are all stupid. Oh yeah we are, we elected the socialist. Bad on us and we got the BAD
Can any taxpayer citizen tell me just ONE place that accepts this amount? Although I don't currently need the services, even the public facilities charge more than that.
His mentor Saul Alinsky, a communist thru and thru….In Artful Dodger style, Barack Obama, plays down his mentorship with Communist author Saul Alinsky. But Alinsky’s son, L. David Alinsky, credits Obama for “learning his lesson well” from the Communist guru. http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/4784
He is following Saul Alinsky's "Rules For Radicals" perfectly. Tell the people what they want to hear, tell them you are from the middle class and can relate. Get elected, then eliminate the middle class.
He is following Saul Alinsky's "Rules For Radicals" perfectly. Tell the people what they want to hear, tell them you are from the middle class and can relate. Get elected, then eliminate the middle class.
This follows exactly the model to have each and every one of us at the mercy of a an unknown bureaucrat for medical services, where we will be required to receive the care, and the government'schoice of a doctor. Get me my gray Mao uniform and let me get used to wearing it. Obama said he was a socialist/marxist in his books, but he is just parroting the aims of the leftwing hippies, and black panthers of the sixties and seventies. This healthcare bill was not composed since Obama was elected, it has been in process for the last forty years.
limited cradle, kill the babies, and early grave, retire and die as at retirement we become a drain on Obamacare and do not contribute (like in Norway). the unwritten plan, stop working and the health czar will dole out care and put the retired on the waiting list for the surgery and call the day after you die. good care is not killing off the user, or for Obama it is. And we thought Hitler was bad, we have a new defination of bad - Obama.
This administration runs around the country - spending taxpayers dollars in doing so - touting a healthcare bill that no one wanted - in an attempt to save the Democratic congressmans jobs that he coherced into voting for this same bill.
Wow - we pay for him cruise the country to promote a bill that we did not want and cannot afford - and will never work in the long run. It is front loaded with what appears to be great goodies - with no cost!! NOTHING IS FREE
First and most sadly is that we have given away a FREEDOM (signed away by our prez) - freedom to choose whether we even have a say so about having health insurance. Do you know how hard it is to get a freedom back once gone!!!
Do people not understand that Americans have died and are giving their lives this very day to keep America free and what do we do!!! We give it away!!!
And for what!!! A promise that is about something totally misconceived!!! It is not INSURANCE that is the problem ---- IT IS THE COST OF HEALTHCARE!!!! Health Insurance is high because HEALTHCARE is high!!! If your car is expensive then your car insurance is going to be higher!!!
If you are risky driver - your insurance will be higher for your car. If you are a health risk - your insurance will be higher!!!!!! Unless you have other people make up the difference --- so if Bamaman wants you to pay for other peoples car insurance when they are high risk are you going to do that too!!!!!
This healthcare trap law - is not American - it is socialism - If you want socialism - go to a socialistic country - plain and simple. If Bama wants to be a socialistic leader - let him go to a socialistic country and leave my USA ALONE.
VOTE, DEMONSTRATE, RESIST, TALK, PROMOTE - you better use your right to free speech now before it is taken away. With this president - it will be next.
Wow, apparently you 1-5 can not read. There is no where that says you are FORCED to have this benefit. 50 bucks ....sorry folks, it would indeed pay for half a day's help at 12 bucks an hr...not exactly a way to get rich, but more than minimum wage. And, don't avail yourselves of the benefit. 50 bucks is better than nothing, and many seniors do not need full time nursing care. that is not what this is. 4 hrs a day...someone could come in, prepare a couple of meals, pick up the house, do laundry....and it would help many srs. Your responses are simply based on people who hate Obama and can see nothing good about him or his proposals. Even most republican leaders find much to agree with. The haters find nothing...obvious which you are.
The people that need the care, need much more than having their meals cooked or beds made. That they can get without Government intervention. Those that go into nursing homes or assisted living are in need of nursing care and good attention, not 4 hours of minimum wage help.
You will finally realize that the proposed system is a way to work the elderly into a box where you can just leave them at home until it is too late to save them and then eliminate the cost. Part time care is part time assistance and part time life. Let them die peacefully.
Of course it won't help all seniors, and no one said it would. But my dad is one of these that it would make a huge difference, and same for many of his friends. So, do not take the paart time care...you are not forced to. But how can you fault those who can benefit from it? that is why i think so much of the argument here is bunk...people can not admit hardly anything is good. All is evil...and no, you are wrong....in that first level of assisted living they do not get 4 hrs a day of 1 on 1 help...least not at any of the assisted living i know of, and have actually seen. This will help some people who want to stay at home to stay at home! the fact that you seem to see this as a scheme to get them to die...it shows that some will see everything through conspiracies, hate, distrust or whatever. Please Raw, don't use it for your family, but do not stop those of us who it will help! There are no death panels, but frankly, i am getting close to wishing there were! ( Not directing that to you Raw)
My response to Obama care is I hate socialism. His proposal will be the death of America. first take over health and medicine -DONE, second take away the righta guarenteed by the constitution -working on it - first Freedom of Assembly. Try to have a large group meet and protest without the man's written permission. second take the guns from the citizen, slowly been doing for the last 40 years - register (so can find to take when declare martial law), limit the amt of ammo you can find to buy (done), FREEDOM OF SPEACHPrevent the opposite view from speaking (done- try and say anything anti Obama in his meeting). Protection from illegal search and seisure (done by Bush). What is next? As a nation we have opposed tyranny and actions against the general population and we must oppose this corrupt administration, one that could not have the legal vote for the socialist medical and opposed the will of the people. do we have to salute him with our arm at a 45 degree, palms forward and shout Seig heil to the Obama? America rise up and stop this socialist/communist in the White House (wonder if he and she plan to paint it red?)!!
sherry.....ignor all the whiners, health care industry lobbyist and hate mongers, while this health care plan is far from the perfect solution, it offers more help for the aging than anything previous.....poor sports always whine after taking a beating
Ellis, being Independent I see both sides. 'Whining after taking a beating' - no, dont kid yourself. They are working to protect what they feel is right for their home, family and country - same as you. Dems are also not 'whining after a beating' when they complain about not getting something done due to numbers. Both sides need to stop degrading each other.
Ellis you have not checked your facts! There are MORE independent, self-sufficient seniors today than those dependent on "assisted living."
Now, that is not to say self-sufficient seniors do not have ailments younger folks don't have. My Mom has osteoarthritis and she manages it! Painful, hard to do heavy stuff, but she manages it.
But forcing them not to be independent, which this plan does, is unacceptable.
It is CHEAPER to help seniors remain independent, than to take away their right of choice of doctors willing to accept Medicare or worse, put them into "assisted living" they DO NOT NEED.
Any help for seniors is a good thing in my book. Can't you Obama haters ever stop your bitching? When your time comes to get some of the benefits,I bet you'll be the first in line. OK,start bitching.
Obama helped seniors all right, his Obamacare cut over $520 Billion dollars from Medicare which helped seniors. Many of the elderly already live in poverty and now will not have access to many tests and services that they have had. Many of the elderly cannot afford to rent a wheelchair for a year as required by Obamacare. Home health and hospice care funding is being cut. And as enrollment in this new "Class" insurance is voluntary, it no doubt requires an additional premium that many of the elderly will not be able to afford.
I am disgusted and ashamed of Obama for what he has done to our nation's elderly and infirm.
Can you be more specific and get off the right wing talking points? Please specify where the $520B in cuts will be and how will these cuts effect the medical outcomes for seniors?
free on the range......the Obama haters are referring to Obama cutting the 520 billion dollars in waste, fraudlent claims, and multiple billings for the same service by private insurers that has happened over the past ten years....they call themselves conservatives but do not mind seeing private insurers bilk taxpayers out of billions of dollars...I'll bet they loved Haliburton
When did all these right wing nutjobs invade MSNBC? It really is pathetic. No matter what Obama does there is nothing but a BS outcry against him. And for the last 8 years not a peep from the same haters about all the Bush policies that nearly bankrupted us and lied us into Iraq. WTF?
It's probably not as much fun "preaching to the choir" over at Fox. They call everything socialism but don't dare mess with their Social Security or Medicare. Waste of time trying to argue with them. Who cares.
msnbc needs to learn to be fair and balanced without an opposite opinion other than a liberal msnbc one, it is not balanced and certainly not fair. So stop whining because ppl don't agree with msnbc, with obama, or with you. State why you disagree but no one has the right to call ppl nut jobs and tell them they cannot post here unless they worship obama and believe every propaganda word printed to promote obama.
Right on Sandra! The "whiners" lol are Obama lovers.. and I agree with you that they don't understand the elements of discussion... most important being Facts, Evidence, Logic for their opinions...
Those factors are sacrificed for name-calling.. otherwise known as the ad hominem fallacy. Sheesh, this is just describing themselves. In formal discussion, it immediately loses them whatever position they thought they were making.
I voted for Obama. I believed his platform. More fool I. He has lied on his Census form, his book states he hates his mother... In my opinion, publicizing that, truth or not, is tacky.
goodness what an idol he has become.... or should I say idolater?
Elby, the folks in the medicare advantage are going to have some cuts..you are right. the reason is that is was a bloated HMO which cost much more than regular medicare and provided some additional benefits, but most of those benefits are going to be found in regular medicare. They have some additional home health benefits and the donut hole is being phased out..a giant benefit to srs. The AARP supported this plan, as did the AMA. would they have done so if seniors were getting screwed? Someone has sold you a bill of goods that is not true. The AARP, whose central mission is to protect seniors supports this!!
The private companies administering the Medicare Advantage programs were over billing Medicare by an average of 14%. This comes from CBO's own investigation. Another interesting tidbit is the fact 25% of medical tests and procedures are unnecessary. You can look up the statistics yourself. 25% came out to several hundred billion dollars with no discernible medical outcome benefit. Looks like plenty of waste and fraud is there for the cutting without hurting seniors one bit. Probably help many of them by not subjecting them to needless radiation exposure from CT scans and the like.
If the Medi care Advantage programs are overbilling fourteen percent, why in hell hasn't the democrat Congress done anything about it? Oh, I get it, the government wants to enhance government's overbilling measures to take care of the worlds downtrodden. Medicare Advantage overbilling is peanuts when it comes to overbilling, when compared to the gov's confiscation of our earnings. Iknow, I know, the government can always do it cheaper, just look at their past record. Damn, I am inspired by Obama.
richard...if you are looking for nursing care, of course you can not find it for 12 bucks an hr. this is a simple 50 bucks per day, and my family def could have used this when my sister was dying with cancer. Don't know the other stuff...haven't read all 2000 pges yet. This is not a solve everything aspect...some people it really can help stay in their homes, but if you can not do much of anything for yourself, 50 bucks won't cover it. Better than nothing though.
You must have missed the last revolution. You know,the one where the banks held up the people instead of the people holding up the banks. This one happened back in the 2000's. Check it out. There's a new revolution going on right now. People calling themselves Tea Bags, storming the streets shouting "more power to the corporations!" Sort of a reverse French Revolution. General Beck is commanding the masses,I believe.
I applaud our great and exalted President's health care bill and only wish it had gone further.
There are several healthcare provisions that should be included in future legislation.
Vision/Eye Care Bill - This would insure and pay for an annual eye exam for every American along with Eye Glasses (2 pair) every year.
Dental Insurance - Every American would receive a minimum of 2 dental examinations per year along with necessary dental work and implants.
Medical Transportation- Although nothing was mentioned or covered in our President's Healthcare bill regarding personal transportation, how is one supposed to get to and from their medical appointments? We should immediately enact and enforce free transportation to see doctor's, hospital stays and prescription medicine.
Birth Control/STD Prevention- Another oversight in the Healthcare bill is that there is no provision for the free dispensing of birth control medications and/or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the spread of STD's. Condoms should and could be dispensed at no cost to those needing them.
LTC/Nursing Home Insurance - Another oversight that needs correcting. We can establish a Board of Examiners that will determine the best living situation for our senior citizens or those citizens that can no longer adequately care for themselves. It would also be deemed feasible to establish and construct a number of facilities across the nation where we could properly house and care for these individuals.
I've only touched on a few topics here but I think all will readily agree the original healthcare bill has left a lot of needed legislation off the books.
Hopefully, this can and will be corrected in the near future.
This is really rich. The author makes it sound so terrific! Seniors can "age in place". What they mean is, there are too many of you old bags to warehouse in nursing homes so you'll be forced to stay at home till either a) your so near death we figure you won't take up bed space long or b) you croak.
And by the way, at $12/hour you don't get medical help, you get the equivalent of a housekeeper. Be advised that the meter will run during travel time. With a 45 minute commute each way (a rough estimate of an average commute), you're down to about 2-1/2 hours of "service". Change sheets, run a load through the washer, dry same, microwave fish sticks, serve 'me up, then boogie.
GEllis: What you don't seem to understand is that a housekeeper is really only what some of these people need. They don't need medical help, just help around the house and someone to fix their meals. And they are not being forced to stay in their homes, they want to stay in their homes. Did you read the article at all.
Actually, my Mom, 80 yrs old, fixes her own meals, washes her own dishes, dusts, and other light housekeeping. She is continent. She does have osteoarthritis and does need someone to scrub the floors, do the vacuuming, and help her step over the side of the tub to shower, and shampoo her hair. She deals with pain but is not crippled and doesn’t take meds for it as she wants to keep her mind unfettered.
She cleans up after herself, writes books, and could substitute teach if her teeth hadn't crumbled and no insurance to help there.. (they also cause tummy problems cuz she cannot chew).
She has paid into Social Security since age 14, and that is her only income now.
A decent housekeeper will do the above for $8 to $10/hour a couple of afternoons a week. Compare that to the cost of foisting her into an "assisted living" complex.
And being unable to choose her doctors, specialists for the arthritis.
And being unable to have her computer, old as it is, to research and write.
This "health plan" of Obama's has nothing to do with being liberal or conservative. It has to do with the competence of Our Leader regardless his presumably liberal party.
His health plan is all show and no go. And all of us when we get to a certain age will be affected whether we are a Democrat or Republican. It passed the congress? Let's get it UNpassed before it goes into effect.
Is $50 in addition to what Medicare or Medicaid would cover for the expense of homecare for the elderly? If, not $50 is just a pittance. No agency would assign a CNA to a job for $50 p/day. No employee will work for $50 a day, anywhere under any circumstances.
Another joke on the aged. Having seen the "system" of care for many years in several states for the elderly, it is a nightmare program which victimizes more humans than it helps. Staff pay is low. Very few people that staff facilities have the patience to stay for low wages, if they are trained.
Hours tend to be 10-12 hour shifts for staff. A lot of professional staff personnel at such low wages still carry on a second job. Hence, their patience level sometimes fluctuates with the environment.
I have seen "housekeepers" all of a sudden be promoted to care-givers w/o one day of schooling. I have seen nurses mess up the meds given to residents. I have seen doctors prescribe the wrong meds and then not respond to the calls from staff when an emergency arose.
The doctors become consultants to facilities, but only after they work long hours in their own practice first.
I have seen residents go to bed hungry and heard them cry as they waited for the next meal, as they were hungry. I have seen residents left in wheelchairs for hours...while they sat in a pool of urine.
Once a resident can no longer move their body and walk even with an aid, they become easy victims of bedsores. The bedsores can be so large as they open up down to the bone and then become infected with staph-MRSA. Patients have lost limbs due to bedsores and the infections. Residents have died because of the shock to the system with the infection and the subsequent pain.
Old women and old men have been sexually assaulted in nursing homes as they laid in their beds. Check out www.aperfectcause.org for more information on cases across the United States. Sexual predators have been given jobs w/o the required background checks to care for the elderly.
It is not uncommon for a resident to be stolen from while living in a facility for senior care. Residents have wandered into unlocked rooms and "forgot" that they were not supposed to touch. Staff has taken "knick-knacks" off of the shelves in the room, as the resident choose to decorate with their few remaining items. Things disappear. The laundry "loses" clothes...towels...even if they are marked with names.
Most facilities having to stay under a budget will cut back on the food as the first line item to be slashed. instead of making choices from column 3, they now choose to serve meals from the price list on column 1. Poor choices...poor nutrition...hungry residents.
A 6'4 man sat in a special wheelchair and stared at the food on his dinner plate. The meal was undescribable water clearly a main ingredient in the sauce. No alternative was offered to him from the kitchen staff. So, the man went to bed hungry that night.
An 85 year old woman infected with MRSA in two bedsores, along with three pressure sores was left in a room by herself. The curtains were pulled around the cries of the woman as she stared at the clock on the wall. She knew it was dinner time. She knew she was hungry. Yet, no staff had come to help her sit up in bed. No staff had brought in a tray for her dinner. No staff came in to even tell the woman that they would be "right back" after checking on her.
If, a person CAN stay in their own home, I am the first one to encourage that aim. If, a person is lucky enough to have family that cares in taking care of that person, I am right behind them in assisting that goal to be met.
Seniors hate leaving their homes. For they know that the move into assisted-living or a nursing home is a costly change. Admission fees..administration costs...medical equipment....van-transportation to doctors appointments. Some people can only afford to move into facilities that place a widow in a room with another widow...widower with widowers...etc. All of a sudden a woman or a man is leaving their home and being forced to share a room with a "new" stranger in their life.
The new move-in owned a home on their own for sixty years. Now, it is gone. Their son or their daughter helped them to make the move and brought in their own TV for the room. Maybe, they also brought in the bedroom set that they shared with their deceased spouse.
Now, in one room there are two people that are forced to share the same space. One or maybe two closets, but definitely only one bathroom. Two bedroom sets, where the two TV's are placed on the dressers only feet apart.
One wall has "mary's" pictures on it and the other wall has "judy's" pictures on it. Maybe, "judy" snores at night with her COPD? Maybe, "mary" likes to leave the TV on all night as she dozes in and out of dreams with fleeting memories.
It is a hard life to end up having to live after years of being one's own boss...of having one's own space...one's own family around to care. Depression if VERY high with the elderly once they are shoved into facilities. The activities director likes to dance into the room with her little clipboard and tell the ladies and the gents..that today they get to see the movie: Titanic for the fifth time in two months. Maybe, they will have cookies and tea served during the movie, as they sit on the urine stained cushions in the "big" front room.
There is big money to be made in the business of caring for the elderly till they pass on and the rooms are turned over for another new move-in. GE has started purchasing facilities because they are invested in electronic files and want the advantage of doing as they please. The Eastern Indians are invested in nursing homes and in assisted-living facilities. The mob invests in facilities as a great way to "clear" funds.
An old couple sells the big house that they have owned for 40 years. They now have a good chunk of equity to invest in their old age. They visit the high-rise facilities owned by the church and think it is a great deal. The move-in fee can be as high as $220k for continual care in the northeast market.
In the south, the move-in fee for continual care can be $150k. Mr. and Mrs. Marks are now new residents of Westfield...or Manor Place...or Heavenly Gardens...whatever name sounds so appealing to those in the last moments of reality before dementia sets in...and they signed their own papers. They paid $150k just to move into the little apartment. They go down to the first floor for their meals. Or, they can cook in their little apartment using the microwave.
That $150k does not include the monthy maintenance charge for the apartment. They still have to pay their own medical expenses. They still have to purchase for themselves food that they might want to eat in their own room.
If, they both survive five years, they get some of their money back on the investment. If, they survive ten years, then that would be considered a long-term good deal. But, if Mr. Marks passes away in the first 12 months, and Mrs. Marks follows shortly thereafter, that money is GONE. It does not go back to the family. The money is gone! Then, it has become a big loss.
Time and again, I have heard the pleas from old men sitting in wheel chairs by the front door. "Please help me". I have seen the lonely old women sitting at a table with food in front of them, with their eyes closed because of the sedatives that they are being given.
If, there is a way to stay in one's home, I always encourage that option. For you now facing that day sooner or later...it is still a point of discussion..."what to do"? For me...after I have seen the horror of they system of care for the elderly...I sincerely HOPE and do pray...that I will go much sooner than later...if living in a nursing home or an assited-living facility is my only choice....more candy...more fried foods...more walks on dangerous cliffs...living a long life does not always mean that it is a happy peaceful safe time in the ending years......
I worked for five hours caring for five elderly persons. I five hours for about $12.00 an hour. I was able to check to make sure they had food, watched one in the shower to make sure they didn't slip, cleaned bathroom and kitchen , made bed for one. For that hour I also provided some one on one time . You get my point. It can be done. These elderly people were in their homes with either with family members that worked or in their own home but just needed some extra help. It is far better than paying for nursing home care unless it is necesary.
i live by myself, am sick with copd. can do many little things for myself but can't wash floors,run vacuum, do the washing and shopping. This is what my "special angel" does for me twice a week. It takes her several hours a week. She is someone to talk to and she refuses to let me feel sorry for myself and want to give up. She says, "not on my watch will you give up". This new program will help so many elderly. I feel it is so cruel for all the hate on this site to be directed at us old sick people. Some of you should look in a dictionary for the word socialism. You are showing your cruelty and stupity. To be so cruel to others means one thing to me, you don't like yourself and have very low self esteem and it makes you feel worth something when you put others down.
Jake.. that is the whole point! This Health Plan will NOT give you what you need!!! Hon, you need, my Mom needs, and I could well need in another x-number of years :), precisely what you are talking about... help to stay independent in your own place.
What is wrong with you folks? This is not nursing care...it does not fit every situation. It helps some people...so that means it is worthless? This is a benefit that helps some people. Like Physical therapy is a benefit that helps some people...because you don't need it, it is worthless??? And whoever said no one would work for 50 bucks for a day. Who said it had to be for a day. The benefit pays 50 bucks...my guess is you could get someone to work 4 or 5 hrs...fact is, i know it. Not nursing care, but there are many things someone can do to help an elderly person stay in their home that do not involve nursing care. You don't think it worthwhile????Don't get it, but don't trash those who it can help.
First of all Adrian Sainz,,,The AARP does not represent Seniors...Though all you Liberal leftist Journalists along with Obama keep trying to give AARP some creditablity, they have absolutely NONE with Seniors and I am a Senior..and I kissed off the scum at AARP over a year ago.....
The AARP is nothing but a front for the Insurance Industry whose board was infliltrated by a bunch of Leftist Liberals in order to try and control the Senior Vote for Obama.....
So here we have a story that might have actually been written by the Insurance Industry with Sainz as a Ghost Writer seeking to assure the Seniors they will be taken care of...About a Health care Bill nearly completely written by the Insurance Industry who lobbied in every way possible to almost write the Health Care Bill. So I doubt there is very little truth written into this story....
Andrian Sainz you totally disgust me....and are part of the fraud er problem and may your typing fingers rot away and may your health care be covered by the Obama plan.....
What it means is that the war that began for the United States on December 7th, 1941 with the Bombing of Pearl Harbor and was won in Europe on VE Day May 8th, 1945, was lost again on May 23rd, 2010 when another Pearl Harbor type event took place in Washington DC and our communist president signed away all that they fought for. Sorry folks, we couldn't keep what you gave us, freedom of choice. Maybe we never deserved it in the first place.
er... verno... do you know what a communist is? (lower case btw) It is a person who has a philosophy (and no doubt utilizes it where possible) that a social structure (of a nation) should abolish classes of people, i.e., the working class, the jet set, the craftsmen/people, as examples in these United States... classes are classes are classes whether you name them "aristocracy" or "peons."
The communist believes that all property should be commonly controlled. The communist philosophy that Marx thought was possible is that "commonly controlled" meant by the "people" equally.
That, in my opinion, is one of the problems with liberal idealism... how to implement its goals.
btw... communism in the United States is generally a naughty word. There is actually a euphemism gaining some strength... Socialism.
Some contortions are going on all the time, and seem to revolve around power plays. And that is where it gets .... unfortunate.
AARP was orignally formed to find insurance rates for a group of people that came together as a purchasing source. It is not a factor in fighting against abuse of any sort for the seniors. It is a business that makes money..just like Salvation Army....Goodwill....and psychics that hide behind the designation of "reverend" to hide the money that they charge for "readings"....ie Edgar Cayce in VA Beach and the "gang" of shakers.
It pays to research....any facility...either with state inspection agencies...ie ACHA....it also helps with decisions for placement or movement into a nursing home or an assisted-living facility. Using google...or bing...or whatever one's choice is...do the search...before making a choice.
Facilities are rated for safety, for management, for health care and nuitrition facts. The charts do not show the abuse from staff, nor the lack of activities that keep the residents involved. The charts do not show that for example in one facility a "kid" was hired as the activities director, where she would walk around the unit for memory-care residents and hand out lollipops.
A person with Alzheimer's does not always remember to suck on a lollipop or hard candy. Some residents choked....one broke a tooth on hard candy, as she forgot not to bite down.
Utilize the business list in the state records. Who owns the facility? Are they a responsible company as a owner? Facilities are known to be in bankruptcy and under that umbrella are not paying the vendors. Hence, in one facility, the pest control had been cancelled.
Might not be a big deal...as you think of it...but, it was when a nurse walked into a dark room at night to check on a patient and found roaches in the man's bed and on his face. She told me she would not even put her purse on a shelf, because she was afraid of the roaches.
A lot of foreign investors have come to America (Pacifica) to purchase small facilities in many states. They hire unqualified staff and keep the expenses down. Residents have towels with holes in them...sauces filled with water to spread out across a few pieces of unknown meat cubes.
(PS Start looking for signs in the meat departments of grocery stores that list the fact that meats are purchased from Mexico...Australia). If, a facility is serving meals under a budget...where is the source of food coming from for the residents?
It may not be something that is of interest to you now..but, someday..you may be in a horrific accident that requires rehab...and guess where you end up going? You may be faced with old age arriving and no where to go...no kids to care....no money to keep you out of the system...and bingo...off you go to the nursing home down the road..."good luck"!
A neighbor had a broken ankle in her aged years...she went to the hospital. She needed rehab at her age. She ended up with bedsores that became infected with staph-MRSA. She died...and the disaster began because of a broken ankle.
We as we need to be involved now, can only make the system change...by force. Find out..who is in charge...find out what the reports are available...walk the property....many times...ask questions...
It is a frightening thought to give $100k to a fancy facility that promises...they will take care of you every single day...first in the assisted-living facility area..and then move you into the nursing home as your health declines.
You become a money source. Your $150k is put into the bank and interest accrues. The cost of keeping you "happy" has to be under a budget. There can be no loss....so, if costs rise..somehow your money in that bank still has to be able to work for the owners....it does not make ANY difference if the facility states: CHURCH OWNED-NOT-FOR-PROFIT. No one is working for free...CEO's take home a hefty salary. Churches do not operate on a charity basis.
The connotation of "church-owned" only makes it more difficult to sue a facility, if they abuse or neglect the patient....it is more difficult to "find the money"...and to place blame. Be very careful...of choices that you make....while you can. Be very careful of choices that you make for those that can no longer make those decisions...for whatever the choice is that you make...in the end...you have to live with that good or bad point.
Just wait until the take $500 billion out of the currently bankrupt Medicare, and then cut medical provider reimbursements by 21 percent.
These are the two 'cost saving' provisions of the 'reform'. Ha.
Seniors will really be 'helped' by these moves, but don't fret, you're going to get $250 if you're in the donut hole. The new Democratic math at work. Soon they're going to reform school programs so your kids and grandkids will 'understand' what us too old to learn folks don't get.
Beware Seniors: The media is now lumping MediCAID with MediCARE and YOU know what they are doing. There is zero credibility now in what is being written by the media.
lol Well, in fairness.. not all media. Mr. Sainz our feature writer we are commenting on is very simplistic, and shows a serious lack of checking his facts.
We are seeing too much of that. Personally I am appalled by the poor education they demonstrate. My own letters behind my real world name are in English and then M.A. Journalism in a top university (no lol not Harvard.. a good state university!)... so I feel qualified to make that judgment.
What ever.... You don't care for the senior citizens any more than you believe in the lord. This bad health law if you can read through the 12,000 + pages of legal bull. Says that if your a elderly, then we will tell you where to go and what to do.
You can shove this bill up your collective.........
See you at the elections people........
I wish they would have had this plan when My Mother was still alive... It was very expensive to have someone live with her full time!!! The only good part was we were able to take it as a tax write off...
All this missinformation! Number One, there are only 2,409 pages in the health care act, not 12,000 plus. Number two; have you read any portion of it? I have been through a good share of it and find nothing to which you speak.
Health Care is something that has been badly needed in this Country for many years and has finally come to pass. There are a lot of improvements to be made in the future but at least we have a start at something that is positive. In the end we will have a healthy America because of it. Like the start of any business venture there is a large capital outlay in the beginning but shortly down the road comes the pay-back and the profit from the undertaking.
Who do you think foots the bill for those that are not insured now. Answer: You with the resources to pay for it do in higher insurance premiums and high cost of medical treatment to cover the expense of those that can't afford it. You have been paying for those that can't afford health care for many years. The health care bill should over time reduce the overall cost of health coverage because all will be paying in to the system and getting the benifits from it.
Don't be so quick to judge something that you know nothing about, I highly suggest that you read through the health care before making false statements concerning it.
I voted for O'Bama as did millions of his supporters did because of his promis of health care reform for all. I did not know if he could deliver on the promis, but he delivered as he said he would.
I am an Independant voter with no party affiliation but I will be voting for those that had the strength and the courage to push us into the future and not knuckel under to the fear mongers and the tea baggers along with the party of NO.
Before you condemn it please look up HR_111_3590_engrossed and see what it has to offer. I think you may have the surprise of your life. It is a lot of reading and research but well worth the effort. Then come November you can make an informed decision based on your own knowledge and not what others are telling you.
lazarous... that is all very well, and I admire your diligence. But money could be SAVED by allowing independent seniors to stay in their own homes, simply with the help of a caregiver to do heavy tasks, (scrubbing floors, vacuuming, lifting heavy objects, etc.).
What is NOT being addressed, it seems (and if you can, help me out here), is that there is no provision for certain inevitabilities of ageing... teeth (they crumble in some who had good dental care when they paid their own dental insurance while working, and were cut off at age 65); hearing (tends to fade especially in distinguishing sounds that blur together; not a volume problem); and vision (glasses.. progressive lenses in fact to help with reading and middle vision work like washing one's own dishes).
Medicare presently provides no help at all for these kinds of problems. The facts as I have researched them is that helpless senior citizens are far outnumbered by seniors who CAN function for themselves but do have inevitable signs, like the above, of physical deterioration.
These folks do not need expensive "assisted living" residences. If the tools of self-sufficiency were covered, the overall health budget would be able to help those much smaller numbers who cannot care for themselves.
My mom worked and paid into Social Security from the time she was 14 years old. This was supposed to be an "insurance policy" for the time when working conventionally was not an option, not because she is enfeebled, but because she is 80 years old. (And if anyone here thinks that Age Discrimination does not exist in these United States, think again.)
She is healthy and youthful looking, and has a sharp mind, but has lost her teeth so cannot chew, has difficulty understanding people who speak rapidly especially on the phone, and most interesting, although she had severe shortsightedness all her life, always wore glasses for distance, now passes drivers' tests (for distance) with no glasses at all... lol but needs readers and separate middle-work glasses hanging by cords around her neck constantly being used back and forth (purchased from Wal-Mart's) which don't last long.
She has no income now except social security.
Thanks to LBJ and subsequent presidents, the Social Security funds which were building nicely were raided for the funds that he and his successors wanted to spend elsewhere. Yet when the FDR presidency set the program up it was supposed to be UNTOUCHABLE by any but its intent: helping seniors who could no longer work, JUST by virtue of their age, and also assist those with those needs of ageing.
It seems to me that Obama is targeting the wrong kind of senior aid: Rather than investing in assisting seniors to self reliance by allowing for the tools they need, he wants to invest in keeping them helpless.
The practicalities of liberal Idealism again miss the boat.
Leave it to MSNBC to keep pulling the Obama bullshi* line! People that go into Long Term Care do not go in because they want to, they go in because they have to!
When my father went into Long Term Care 6 years ago, caring for him had become a 24/7 job. And I wasn't going to have my father's illness and issues kill my mother too! Losing one parent to the horrific conditions of Parkinson's and Dementia was bad enough.
So, since our lousy system will not pay for long-term care in the home, my parents did what everyone should do. They went to court, filed and received complete asset protection from the state, awarded my mom all current and future income of my dad's (social security and pension) to continue to maintain her life, and he went into a Medi-Cal facility which is footing the bill at $10,000 per month!
Now how screwed up is that? The cost of in-home care would probably have been about half that, but Medicaid won't pay for in-home.
And $50.00 a day? You've got to be f-in kidding!!!
$50 would not pay for half a days care. Who are they kidding!
CL|ASS has protections (?) to guarentee solvency for 75 years. yeah and I believe in the Easter bunny and santa. The protections for Social security sure worked didn't they. government protections = we lose and much before 75 years. Obama must think we are all stupid. Oh yeah we are, we elected the socialist. Bad on us and we got the BAD
Can any taxpayer citizen tell me just ONE place that accepts this amount? Although I don't currently need the services, even the public facilities charge more than that.
obama, reid and pelosi suck. Pass the koolaid, thats what obama has for us seniors.the socialist bastard
Educate yourself on this man.PBO….he is no Lincoln
His friends Richard A. Cloward and Frances Fox Piven, whose intent is to bankrupt the US and force a socialist society.
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6967
His mentor Saul Alinsky, a communist thru and thru….In Artful Dodger style, Barack Obama, plays down his mentorship with Communist author Saul Alinsky. But Alinsky’s son, L. David Alinsky, credits Obama for “learning his lesson well” from the Communist guru.
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/4784
He is following Saul Alinsky's "Rules For Radicals" perfectly. Tell the people what they want to hear, tell them you are from the middle class and can relate. Get elected, then eliminate the middle class.
He is following Saul Alinsky's "Rules For Radicals" perfectly. Tell the people what they want to hear, tell them you are from the middle class and can relate. Get elected, then eliminate the middle class.
Brad, are you going to post the same crap in every blog on News Vine. Just curious. Where did you cut and paste that from anyway?
This follows exactly the model to have each and every one of us at the mercy of a an unknown bureaucrat for medical services, where we will be required to receive the care, and the government'schoice of a doctor. Get me my gray Mao uniform and let me get used to wearing it. Obama said he was a socialist/marxist in his books, but he is just parroting the aims of the leftwing hippies, and black panthers of the sixties and seventies. This healthcare bill was not composed since Obama was elected, it has been in process for the last forty years.
Cradle to Grave Healthcare brought to you by Barack Hussein Obama and his band of thugs.
limited cradle, kill the babies, and early grave, retire and die as at retirement we become a drain on Obamacare and do not contribute (like in Norway). the unwritten plan, stop working and the health czar will dole out care and put the retired on the waiting list for the surgery and call the day after you die. good care is not killing off the user, or for Obama it is. And we thought Hitler was bad, we have a new defination of bad - Obama.
This administration runs around the country - spending taxpayers dollars in doing so - touting a healthcare bill that no one wanted - in an attempt to save the Democratic congressmans jobs that he coherced into voting for this same bill.
Wow - we pay for him cruise the country to promote a bill that we did not want and cannot afford - and will never work in the long run. It is front loaded with what appears to be great goodies - with no cost!! NOTHING IS FREE
First and most sadly is that we have given away a FREEDOM (signed away by our prez) - freedom to choose whether we even have a say so about having health insurance. Do you know how hard it is to get a freedom back once gone!!!
Do people not understand that Americans have died and are giving their lives this very day to keep America free and what do we do!!! We give it away!!!
And for what!!! A promise that is about something totally misconceived!!! It is not INSURANCE that is the problem ---- IT IS THE COST OF HEALTHCARE!!!! Health Insurance is high because HEALTHCARE is high!!! If your car is expensive then your car insurance is going to be higher!!!
If you are risky driver - your insurance will be higher for your car. If you are a health risk - your insurance will be higher!!!!!! Unless you have other people make up the difference --- so if Bamaman wants you to pay for other peoples car insurance when they are high risk are you going to do that too!!!!!
This healthcare trap law - is not American - it is socialism - If you want socialism - go to a socialistic country - plain and simple. If Bama wants to be a socialistic leader - let him go to a socialistic country and leave my USA ALONE.
VOTE, DEMONSTRATE, RESIST, TALK, PROMOTE - you better use your right to free speech now before it is taken away. With this president - it will be next.
Wow, apparently you 1-5 can not read. There is no where that says you are FORCED to have this benefit. 50 bucks ....sorry folks, it would indeed pay for half a day's help at 12 bucks an hr...not exactly a way to get rich, but more than minimum wage. And, don't avail yourselves of the benefit. 50 bucks is better than nothing, and many seniors do not need full time nursing care. that is not what this is. 4 hrs a day...someone could come in, prepare a couple of meals, pick up the house, do laundry....and it would help many srs. Your responses are simply based on people who hate Obama and can see nothing good about him or his proposals. Even most republican leaders find much to agree with. The haters find nothing...obvious which you are.
The people that need the care, need much more than having their meals cooked or beds made. That they can get without Government intervention. Those that go into nursing homes or assisted living are in need of nursing care and good attention, not 4 hours of minimum wage help.
You will finally realize that the proposed system is a way to work the elderly into a box where you can just leave them at home until it is too late to save them and then eliminate the cost. Part time care is part time assistance and part time life. Let them die peacefully.
Of course it won't help all seniors, and no one said it would. But my dad is one of these that it would make a huge difference, and same for many of his friends. So, do not take the paart time care...you are not forced to. But how can you fault those who can benefit from it? that is why i think so much of the argument here is bunk...people can not admit hardly anything is good. All is evil...and no, you are wrong....in that first level of assisted living they do not get 4 hrs a day of 1 on 1 help...least not at any of the assisted living i know of, and have actually seen. This will help some people who want to stay at home to stay at home! the fact that you seem to see this as a scheme to get them to die...it shows that some will see everything through conspiracies, hate, distrust or whatever. Please Raw, don't use it for your family, but do not stop those of us who it will help! There are no death panels, but frankly, i am getting close to wishing there were! ( Not directing that to you Raw)
My response to Obama care is I hate socialism. His proposal will be the death of America. first take over health and medicine -DONE, second take away the righta guarenteed by the constitution -working on it - first Freedom of Assembly. Try to have a large group meet and protest without the man's written permission. second take the guns from the citizen, slowly been doing for the last 40 years - register (so can find to take when declare martial law), limit the amt of ammo you can find to buy (done), FREEDOM OF SPEACHPrevent the opposite view from speaking (done- try and say anything anti Obama in his meeting). Protection from illegal search and seisure (done by Bush). What is next? As a nation we have opposed tyranny and actions against the general population and we must oppose this corrupt administration, one that could not have the legal vote for the socialist medical and opposed the will of the people. do we have to salute him with our arm at a 45 degree, palms forward and shout Seig heil to the Obama? America rise up and stop this socialist/communist in the White House (wonder if he and she plan to paint it red?)!!
sherry.....ignor all the whiners, health care industry lobbyist and hate mongers, while this health care plan is far from the perfect solution, it offers more help for the aging than anything previous.....poor sports always whine after taking a beating
Ellis, being Independent I see both sides. 'Whining after taking a beating' - no, dont kid yourself. They are working to protect what they feel is right for their home, family and country - same as you. Dems are also not 'whining after a beating' when they complain about not getting something done due to numbers. Both sides need to stop degrading each other.
Ellis you have not checked your facts! There are MORE independent, self-sufficient seniors today than those dependent on "assisted living."
Now, that is not to say self-sufficient seniors do not have ailments younger folks don't have. My Mom has osteoarthritis and she manages it! Painful, hard to do heavy stuff, but she manages it.
But forcing them not to be independent, which this plan does, is unacceptable.
It is CHEAPER to help seniors remain independent, than to take away their right of choice of doctors willing to accept Medicare or worse, put them into "assisted living" they DO NOT NEED.
Got it? Get it!
Any help for seniors is a good thing in my book. Can't you Obama haters ever stop your bitching? When your time comes to get some of the benefits,I bet you'll be the first in line. OK,start bitching.
Your book must be fiction
Obama helped seniors all right, his Obamacare cut over $520 Billion dollars from Medicare which helped seniors. Many of the elderly already live in poverty and now will not have access to many tests and services that they have had. Many of the elderly cannot afford to rent a wheelchair for a year as required by Obamacare. Home health and hospice care funding is being cut. And as enrollment in this new "Class" insurance is voluntary, it no doubt requires an additional premium that many of the elderly will not be able to afford.
I am disgusted and ashamed of Obama for what he has done to our nation's elderly and infirm.
Can you be more specific and get off the right wing talking points? Please specify where the $520B in cuts will be and how will these cuts effect the medical outcomes for seniors?
free on the range......the Obama haters are referring to Obama cutting the 520 billion dollars in waste, fraudlent claims, and multiple billings for the same service by private insurers that has happened over the past ten years....they call themselves conservatives but do not mind seeing private insurers bilk taxpayers out of billions of dollars...I'll bet they loved Haliburton
They can stay in their homes longer? You mean so it's less expensive for the government?
Funny Obamacare parody: http://www.funnyconservatives.com/?p=747
When did all these right wing nutjobs invade MSNBC? It really is pathetic. No matter what Obama does there is nothing but a BS outcry against him. And for the last 8 years not a peep from the same haters about all the Bush policies that nearly bankrupted us and lied us into Iraq. WTF?
It's probably not as much fun "preaching to the choir" over at Fox. They call everything socialism but don't dare mess with their Social Security or Medicare. Waste of time trying to argue with them. Who cares.
msnbc needs to learn to be fair and balanced without an opposite opinion other than a liberal msnbc one, it is not balanced and certainly not fair. So stop whining because ppl don't agree with msnbc, with obama, or with you. State why you disagree but no one has the right to call ppl nut jobs and tell them they cannot post here unless they worship obama and believe every propaganda word printed to promote obama.
Right on Sandra! The "whiners" lol are Obama lovers.. and I agree with you that they don't understand the elements of discussion... most important being Facts, Evidence, Logic for their opinions...
Those factors are sacrificed for name-calling.. otherwise known as the ad hominem fallacy. Sheesh, this is just describing themselves. In formal discussion, it immediately loses them whatever position they thought they were making.
I voted for Obama. I believed his platform. More fool I. He has lied on his Census form, his book states he hates his mother... In my opinion, publicizing that, truth or not, is tacky.
goodness what an idol he has become.... or should I say idolater?
Elby, the folks in the medicare advantage are going to have some cuts..you are right. the reason is that is was a bloated HMO which cost much more than regular medicare and provided some additional benefits, but most of those benefits are going to be found in regular medicare. They have some additional home health benefits and the donut hole is being phased out..a giant benefit to srs. The AARP supported this plan, as did the AMA. would they have done so if seniors were getting screwed? Someone has sold you a bill of goods that is not true. The AARP, whose central mission is to protect seniors supports this!!
The private companies administering the Medicare Advantage programs were over billing Medicare by an average of 14%. This comes from CBO's own investigation. Another interesting tidbit is the fact 25% of medical tests and procedures are unnecessary. You can look up the statistics yourself. 25% came out to several hundred billion dollars with no discernible medical outcome benefit. Looks like plenty of waste and fraud is there for the cutting without hurting seniors one bit. Probably help many of them by not subjecting them to needless radiation exposure from CT scans and the like.
If the Medi care Advantage programs are overbilling fourteen percent, why in hell hasn't the democrat Congress done anything about it? Oh, I get it, the government wants to enhance government's overbilling measures to take care of the worlds downtrodden. Medicare Advantage overbilling is peanuts when it comes to overbilling, when compared to the gov's confiscation of our earnings. Iknow, I know, the government can always do it cheaper, just look at their past record. Damn, I am inspired by Obama.
12 dollars an hour, where? We looked into it for my dad before he died and it was alot more than that.
Does it say anywhere where the voluntary insurance will cost and how long do you have to pay for it before they would do anything?
richard...if you are looking for nursing care, of course you can not find it for 12 bucks an hr. this is a simple 50 bucks per day, and my family def could have used this when my sister was dying with cancer. Don't know the other stuff...haven't read all 2000 pges yet. This is not a solve everything aspect...some people it really can help stay in their homes, but if you can not do much of anything for yourself, 50 bucks won't cover it. Better than nothing though.
AARP is in bed with insurance companies.
You know, it is the same as Bush, they both say, wait and see what happens before complain and with all the waiting, nothing good has happened yet.
Jefferson said that a revolution is good every generation or so, maybe it is time.
If Tim McVeigh was still kickin, he would salute you.
You must have missed the last revolution. You know,the one where the banks held up the people instead of the people holding up the banks. This one happened back in the 2000's. Check it out. There's a new revolution going on right now. People calling themselves Tea Bags, storming the streets shouting "more power to the corporations!" Sort of a reverse French Revolution. General Beck is commanding the masses,I believe.
I applaud our great and exalted President's health care bill and only wish it had gone further.
There are several healthcare provisions that should be included in future legislation.
Vision/Eye Care Bill - This would insure and pay for an annual eye exam for every American along with Eye Glasses (2 pair) every year.
Dental Insurance - Every American would receive a minimum of 2 dental examinations per year along with necessary dental work and implants.
Medical Transportation- Although nothing was mentioned or covered in our President's Healthcare bill regarding personal transportation, how is one supposed to get to and from their medical appointments? We should immediately enact and enforce free transportation to see doctor's, hospital stays and prescription medicine.
Birth Control/STD Prevention- Another oversight in the Healthcare bill is that there is no provision for the free dispensing of birth control medications and/or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the spread of STD's. Condoms should and could be dispensed at no cost to those needing them.
LTC/Nursing Home Insurance - Another oversight that needs correcting. We can establish a Board of Examiners that will determine the best living situation for our senior citizens or those citizens that can no longer adequately care for themselves. It would also be deemed feasible to establish and construct a number of facilities across the nation where we could properly house and care for these individuals.
I've only touched on a few topics here but I think all will readily agree the original healthcare bill has left a lot of needed legislation off the books.
Hopefully, this can and will be corrected in the near future.
Chuck.. you cover topics which are imperatives.
Implementing them? In our dreams. In fact, the fact that they were left out, for me addresses the invalidity of the entire plan!.
This is really rich. The author makes it sound so terrific! Seniors can "age in place". What they mean is, there are too many of you old bags to warehouse in nursing homes so you'll be forced to stay at home till either a) your so near death we figure you won't take up bed space long or b) you croak.
And by the way, at $12/hour you don't get medical help, you get the equivalent of a housekeeper. Be advised that the meter will run during travel time. With a 45 minute commute each way (a rough estimate of an average commute), you're down to about 2-1/2 hours of "service". Change sheets, run a load through the washer, dry same, microwave fish sticks, serve 'me up, then boogie.
We are so screwed.
GEllis: What you don't seem to understand is that a housekeeper is really only what some of these people need. They don't need medical help, just help around the house and someone to fix their meals. And they are not being forced to stay in their homes, they want to stay in their homes. Did you read the article at all.
Actually, my Mom, 80 yrs old, fixes her own meals, washes her own dishes, dusts, and other light housekeeping. She is continent. She does have osteoarthritis and does need someone to scrub the floors, do the vacuuming, and help her step over the side of the tub to shower, and shampoo her hair. She deals with pain but is not crippled and doesn’t take meds for it as she wants to keep her mind unfettered.
She cleans up after herself, writes books, and could substitute teach if her teeth hadn't crumbled and no insurance to help there.. (they also cause tummy problems cuz she cannot chew).
She has paid into Social Security since age 14, and that is her only income now.
A decent housekeeper will do the above for $8 to $10/hour a couple of afternoons a week. Compare that to the cost of foisting her into an "assisted living" complex.
And being unable to choose her doctors, specialists for the arthritis.
And being unable to have her computer, old as it is, to research and write.
This "health plan" of Obama's has nothing to do with being liberal or conservative. It has to do with the competence of Our Leader regardless his presumably liberal party.
His health plan is all show and no go. And all of us when we get to a certain age will be affected whether we are a Democrat or Republican. It passed the congress? Let's get it UNpassed before it goes into effect.
Is $50 in addition to what Medicare or Medicaid would cover for the expense of homecare for the elderly? If, not $50 is just a pittance. No agency would assign a CNA to a job for $50 p/day. No employee will work for $50 a day, anywhere under any circumstances.
Another joke on the aged. Having seen the "system" of care for many years in several states for the elderly, it is a nightmare program which victimizes more humans than it helps. Staff pay is low. Very few people that staff facilities have the patience to stay for low wages, if they are trained.
Hours tend to be 10-12 hour shifts for staff. A lot of professional staff personnel at such low wages still carry on a second job. Hence, their patience level sometimes fluctuates with the environment.
I have seen "housekeepers" all of a sudden be promoted to care-givers w/o one day of schooling. I have seen nurses mess up the meds given to residents. I have seen doctors prescribe the wrong meds and then not respond to the calls from staff when an emergency arose.
The doctors become consultants to facilities, but only after they work long hours in their own practice first.
I have seen residents go to bed hungry and heard them cry as they waited for the next meal, as they were hungry. I have seen residents left in wheelchairs for hours...while they sat in a pool of urine.
Once a resident can no longer move their body and walk even with an aid, they become easy victims of bedsores. The bedsores can be so large as they open up down to the bone and then become infected with staph-MRSA. Patients have lost limbs due to bedsores and the infections. Residents have died because of the shock to the system with the infection and the subsequent pain.
Old women and old men have been sexually assaulted in nursing homes as they laid in their beds. Check out www.aperfectcause.org for more information on cases across the United States. Sexual predators have been given jobs w/o the required background checks to care for the elderly.
It is not uncommon for a resident to be stolen from while living in a facility for senior care. Residents have wandered into unlocked rooms and "forgot" that they were not supposed to touch. Staff has taken "knick-knacks" off of the shelves in the room, as the resident choose to decorate with their few remaining items. Things disappear. The laundry "loses" clothes...towels...even if they are marked with names.
Most facilities having to stay under a budget will cut back on the food as the first line item to be slashed. instead of making choices from column 3, they now choose to serve meals from the price list on column 1. Poor choices...poor nutrition...hungry residents.
A 6'4 man sat in a special wheelchair and stared at the food on his dinner plate. The meal was undescribable water clearly a main ingredient in the sauce. No alternative was offered to him from the kitchen staff. So, the man went to bed hungry that night.
An 85 year old woman infected with MRSA in two bedsores, along with three pressure sores was left in a room by herself. The curtains were pulled around the cries of the woman as she stared at the clock on the wall. She knew it was dinner time. She knew she was hungry. Yet, no staff had come to help her sit up in bed. No staff had brought in a tray for her dinner. No staff came in to even tell the woman that they would be "right back" after checking on her.
If, a person CAN stay in their own home, I am the first one to encourage that aim. If, a person is lucky enough to have family that cares in taking care of that person, I am right behind them in assisting that goal to be met.
Seniors hate leaving their homes. For they know that the move into assisted-living or a nursing home is a costly change. Admission fees..administration costs...medical equipment....van-transportation to doctors appointments. Some people can only afford to move into facilities that place a widow in a room with another widow...widower with widowers...etc. All of a sudden a woman or a man is leaving their home and being forced to share a room with a "new" stranger in their life.
The new move-in owned a home on their own for sixty years. Now, it is gone. Their son or their daughter helped them to make the move and brought in their own TV for the room. Maybe, they also brought in the bedroom set that they shared with their deceased spouse.
Now, in one room there are two people that are forced to share the same space. One or maybe two closets, but definitely only one bathroom. Two bedroom sets, where the two TV's are placed on the dressers only feet apart.
One wall has "mary's" pictures on it and the other wall has "judy's" pictures on it. Maybe, "judy" snores at night with her COPD? Maybe, "mary" likes to leave the TV on all night as she dozes in and out of dreams with fleeting memories.
It is a hard life to end up having to live after years of being one's own boss...of having one's own space...one's own family around to care. Depression if VERY high with the elderly once they are shoved into facilities. The activities director likes to dance into the room with her little clipboard and tell the ladies and the gents..that today they get to see the movie: Titanic for the fifth time in two months. Maybe, they will have cookies and tea served during the movie, as they sit on the urine stained cushions in the "big" front room.
There is big money to be made in the business of caring for the elderly till they pass on and the rooms are turned over for another new move-in. GE has started purchasing facilities because they are invested in electronic files and want the advantage of doing as they please. The Eastern Indians are invested in nursing homes and in assisted-living facilities. The mob invests in facilities as a great way to "clear" funds.
An old couple sells the big house that they have owned for 40 years. They now have a good chunk of equity to invest in their old age. They visit the high-rise facilities owned by the church and think it is a great deal. The move-in fee can be as high as $220k for continual care in the northeast market.
In the south, the move-in fee for continual care can be $150k. Mr. and Mrs. Marks are now new residents of Westfield...or Manor Place...or Heavenly Gardens...whatever name sounds so appealing to those in the last moments of reality before dementia sets in...and they signed their own papers. They paid $150k just to move into the little apartment. They go down to the first floor for their meals. Or, they can cook in their little apartment using the microwave.
That $150k does not include the monthy maintenance charge for the apartment. They still have to pay their own medical expenses. They still have to purchase for themselves food that they might want to eat in their own room.
If, they both survive five years, they get some of their money back on the investment. If, they survive ten years, then that would be considered a long-term good deal. But, if Mr. Marks passes away in the first 12 months, and Mrs. Marks follows shortly thereafter, that money is GONE. It does not go back to the family. The money is gone! Then, it has become a big loss.
Time and again, I have heard the pleas from old men sitting in wheel chairs by the front door. "Please help me". I have seen the lonely old women sitting at a table with food in front of them, with their eyes closed because of the sedatives that they are being given.
If, there is a way to stay in one's home, I always encourage that option. For you now facing that day sooner or later...it is still a point of discussion..."what to do"? For me...after I have seen the horror of they system of care for the elderly...I sincerely HOPE and do pray...that I will go much sooner than later...if living in a nursing home or an assited-living facility is my only choice....more candy...more fried foods...more walks on dangerous cliffs...living a long life does not always mean that it is a happy peaceful safe time in the ending years......
I worked for five hours caring for five elderly persons. I five hours for about $12.00 an hour. I was able to check to make sure they had food, watched one in the shower to make sure they didn't slip, cleaned bathroom and kitchen , made bed for one. For that hour I also provided some one on one time . You get my point. It can be done. These elderly people were in their homes with either with family members that worked or in their own home but just needed some extra help. It is far better than paying for nursing home care unless it is necesary.
i live by myself, am sick with copd. can do many little things for myself but can't wash floors,run vacuum, do the washing and shopping. This is what my "special angel" does for me twice a week. It takes her several hours a week. She is someone to talk to and she refuses to let me feel sorry for myself and want to give up. She says, "not on my watch will you give up". This new program will help so many elderly. I feel it is so cruel for all the hate on this site to be directed at us old sick people. Some of you should look in a dictionary for the word socialism. You are showing your cruelty and stupity. To be so cruel to others means one thing to me, you don't like yourself and have very low self esteem and it makes you feel worth something when you put others down.
Jake.. that is the whole point! This Health Plan will NOT give you what you need!!! Hon, you need, my Mom needs, and I could well need in another x-number of years :), precisely what you are talking about... help to stay independent in your own place.
We need to be sure that happens.
What is wrong with you folks? This is not nursing care...it does not fit every situation. It helps some people...so that means it is worthless? This is a benefit that helps some people. Like Physical therapy is a benefit that helps some people...because you don't need it, it is worthless??? And whoever said no one would work for 50 bucks for a day. Who said it had to be for a day. The benefit pays 50 bucks...my guess is you could get someone to work 4 or 5 hrs...fact is, i know it. Not nursing care, but there are many things someone can do to help an elderly person stay in their home that do not involve nursing care. You don't think it worthwhile????Don't get it, but don't trash those who it can help.
First of all Adrian Sainz,,,The AARP does not represent Seniors...Though all you Liberal leftist Journalists along with Obama keep trying to give AARP some creditablity, they have absolutely NONE with Seniors and I am a Senior..and I kissed off the scum at AARP over a year ago.....
The AARP is nothing but a front for the Insurance Industry whose board was infliltrated by a bunch of Leftist Liberals in order to try and control the Senior Vote for Obama.....
So here we have a story that might have actually been written by the Insurance Industry with Sainz as a Ghost Writer seeking to assure the Seniors they will be taken care of...About a Health care Bill nearly completely written by the Insurance Industry who lobbied in every way possible to almost write the Health Care Bill. So I doubt there is very little truth written into this story....
Andrian Sainz you totally disgust me....and are part of the fraud er problem and may your typing fingers rot away and may your health care be covered by the Obama plan.....
Please check out this organization and what it is doing for the elderly.
http://www.hearth-home.org
What it means is that the war that began for the United States on December 7th, 1941 with the Bombing of Pearl Harbor and was won in Europe on VE Day May 8th, 1945, was lost again on May 23rd, 2010 when another Pearl Harbor type event took place in Washington DC and our communist president signed away all that they fought for. Sorry folks, we couldn't keep what you gave us, freedom of choice. Maybe we never deserved it in the first place.
wlockridge: You really need to look up what a communist is, then come back and correct your statements. They are BS.
er... verno... do you know what a communist is? (lower case btw) It is a person who has a philosophy (and no doubt utilizes it where possible) that a social structure (of a nation) should abolish classes of people, i.e., the working class, the jet set, the craftsmen/people, as examples in these United States... classes are classes are classes whether you name them "aristocracy" or "peons."
The communist believes that all property should be commonly controlled. The communist philosophy that Marx thought was possible is that "commonly controlled" meant by the "people" equally.
That, in my opinion, is one of the problems with liberal idealism... how to implement its goals.
btw... communism in the United States is generally a naughty word. There is actually a euphemism gaining some strength... Socialism.
Some contortions are going on all the time, and seem to revolve around power plays. And that is where it gets .... unfortunate.
AARP was orignally formed to find insurance rates for a group of people that came together as a purchasing source. It is not a factor in fighting against abuse of any sort for the seniors. It is a business that makes money..just like Salvation Army....Goodwill....and psychics that hide behind the designation of "reverend" to hide the money that they charge for "readings"....ie Edgar Cayce in VA Beach and the "gang" of shakers.
It pays to research....any facility...either with state inspection agencies...ie ACHA....it also helps with decisions for placement or movement into a nursing home or an assisted-living facility. Using google...or bing...or whatever one's choice is...do the search...before making a choice.
Facilities are rated for safety, for management, for health care and nuitrition facts. The charts do not show the abuse from staff, nor the lack of activities that keep the residents involved. The charts do not show that for example in one facility a "kid" was hired as the activities director, where she would walk around the unit for memory-care residents and hand out lollipops.
A person with Alzheimer's does not always remember to suck on a lollipop or hard candy. Some residents choked....one broke a tooth on hard candy, as she forgot not to bite down.
Utilize the business list in the state records. Who owns the facility? Are they a responsible company as a owner? Facilities are known to be in bankruptcy and under that umbrella are not paying the vendors. Hence, in one facility, the pest control had been cancelled.
Might not be a big deal...as you think of it...but, it was when a nurse walked into a dark room at night to check on a patient and found roaches in the man's bed and on his face. She told me she would not even put her purse on a shelf, because she was afraid of the roaches.
A lot of foreign investors have come to America (Pacifica) to purchase small facilities in many states. They hire unqualified staff and keep the expenses down. Residents have towels with holes in them...sauces filled with water to spread out across a few pieces of unknown meat cubes.
(PS Start looking for signs in the meat departments of grocery stores that list the fact that meats are purchased from Mexico...Australia). If, a facility is serving meals under a budget...where is the source of food coming from for the residents?
It may not be something that is of interest to you now..but, someday..you may be in a horrific accident that requires rehab...and guess where you end up going? You may be faced with old age arriving and no where to go...no kids to care....no money to keep you out of the system...and bingo...off you go to the nursing home down the road..."good luck"!
A neighbor had a broken ankle in her aged years...she went to the hospital. She needed rehab at her age. She ended up with bedsores that became infected with staph-MRSA. She died...and the disaster began because of a broken ankle.
We as we need to be involved now, can only make the system change...by force. Find out..who is in charge...find out what the reports are available...walk the property....many times...ask questions...
It is a frightening thought to give $100k to a fancy facility that promises...they will take care of you every single day...first in the assisted-living facility area..and then move you into the nursing home as your health declines.
You become a money source. Your $150k is put into the bank and interest accrues. The cost of keeping you "happy" has to be under a budget. There can be no loss....so, if costs rise..somehow your money in that bank still has to be able to work for the owners....it does not make ANY difference if the facility states: CHURCH OWNED-NOT-FOR-PROFIT. No one is working for free...CEO's take home a hefty salary. Churches do not operate on a charity basis.
The connotation of "church-owned" only makes it more difficult to sue a facility, if they abuse or neglect the patient....it is more difficult to "find the money"...and to place blame. Be very careful...of choices that you make....while you can. Be very careful of choices that you make for those that can no longer make those decisions...for whatever the choice is that you make...in the end...you have to live with that good or bad point.
Just wait until the take $500 billion out of the currently bankrupt Medicare, and then cut medical provider reimbursements by 21 percent.
These are the two 'cost saving' provisions of the 'reform'. Ha.
Seniors will really be 'helped' by these moves, but don't fret, you're going to get $250 if you're in the donut hole. The new Democratic math at work. Soon they're going to reform school programs so your kids and grandkids will 'understand' what us too old to learn folks don't get.
To Ray-824348, What page do you find this information on? I don't see it.
Beware Seniors: The media is now lumping MediCAID with MediCARE and YOU know what they are doing. There is zero credibility now in what is being written by the media.
lol Well, in fairness.. not all media. Mr. Sainz our feature writer we are commenting on is very simplistic, and shows a serious lack of checking his facts.
We are seeing too much of that. Personally I am appalled by the poor education they demonstrate. My own letters behind my real world name are in English and then M.A. Journalism in a top university (no lol not Harvard.. a good state university!)... so I feel qualified to make that judgment.