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Additionally, we were confronted with the nightmare of warehousing our loved ones into facilities that were more concerned with their “bottom line” than human dignity.

What I saw through my parents’ eyes and what I am learning through my interactions with the elderly for whom I advocate is that we have become a mean, uncaring society that has turned its back on its most vulnerable citizens. Many elderly Americans would like to live their remaining years independently at home. They should not be forced to get more costly care in a nursing home. In order for this to happen, federal law must be changed to make it easier for states to provide older Americans access to home and community-based services.

While we talk about health care reform, there is little mention of long-term care for the elderly. Assisted living or nursing home care costs anywhere between $24,000 to over $60,000 a year and it is not covered by Medicare. Medicaid will not pick up these costs until you have gone through all of your assets. Because it is so expensive, 80% of seniors are living with relatives, which places a tremendous psychological and financial burden on families. These are spouses, adult children, young children, partners, etc. Many of these caregivers carry full time jobs while taking care of their loved ones. Twenty million Americans are taking care of elderly relatives while raising children of their own. Tragically, many of these caregivers are also frail, and can barely take care of themselves much less an elderly relative. It is estimated that relatives provide an estimated $237 billion in unpaid services every year. How are we going to support and supplement the care provided by unpaid caregivers? An estimated 700,000 elderly adults in this country lack proper shelter, clothing, and food; how are we going to ensure these most vulnerable individuals receive the most basic necessities of life?

There are several amendments attached to the health care reform bills in Congress that will help seniors stay at home by providing incentives for states to offer home and community based services as a long-term care alternative to nursing homes. Essentially the amendments will get the federal government into the business of providing matching funds to states that offer community care to the elderly. These services include fall prevention classes, nutrition classes, exercise classes and home health visits for those who need them. I encourage all of you to contact your representatives in Congress and encourage them to support these amendments.

When talking about issues such as long-term care with your friends in the community, I suggest reframing the discussion. Folks must learn that we are all in this together; serious illnesses and aging are the great equalizers. They do not distinguish between the rich and poor or the educated and uneducated. To bring this message forward, people must understand that all of us are dependent on others from the time we are born until the time we die. Could we get to work without the people who build automobiles and highways? Dependence on one another is the human condition. I urge all of you to write your representatives in Congress and tell them how to support providing health and community based services to elderly Americans so they can live at home. Remember, we are all in this together!

Jeff and his wife have a book coming out later this fall, "Taking Control of Your Healthcare".

Jeff also writes on issues affecting health on his blog, www.TakingControlOfYourHealthcare.com.
 
 
 
 

Let's Not Forget About the Elderly.

As health care reform becomes a reality, the care of the frail and elderly must be addressed. The fastest growing segment of the population is comprised of those over the age of 85. How are we going to make their final years safe and comfortable? The problems with long-term care in this country became strikingly evident to me as I witnessed both my own and my wife’s parents suffer not only from chronic illnesses and other end-of-life issues, but also from a woefully inadequate system of care. We had to deal with an ineffective, fragmented health care system that provides expensive, duplicate, and often unnecessary services.

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