Sunday March 25, 2012, 4:45 pm
Hi you know the thinking, pay as little as you can, do not worry if a person dies, there will always someone new for us to make money on, but do not forget you could be that next person.

Sunday March 25, 2012, 5:37 pm
This is America, for crying out loud. Why do we have to beg for Health Care? Kick out the Republibaggers so we can get some good ideas and something accomplished in the government we pay plenty to have. The first thing they did was to vote themselves $50,000 raise and set their work schedule so they work 2 weeks and off 2 weeks. If they want to work part-time, they should get part-time pay and no benefits, just like what would happen to us. Geez, we could really fix the budget then with all the savings from paying them every 2 weeks for doing nothing. They still do nothing for the 2 weeks they are there, except to want to legislate women's bodies. Certainly nothing governmental.

Sunday March 25, 2012, 8:45 pm
Anybody wants to get a handle on what some of this is all about should read Barbara Ehrenreich's book. A real eye opener.

Ehrenreich, B. (2001). Nickel and dimed: On (not) getting by in America (2nd ed.). Macmillan, 2008.

Sunday March 25, 2012, 11:17 pm
One of the really depressing things about the lack of good health care in the US is that we spend more to provide less. For example, it is generally cheaper to have someone tended to in their own home than it is to have them in a full-time care facility. But we cut back on in-home care, which forces many people into more expensive 24-7 care that is also less good for them. We also don't cover wheelchairs or powerchairs for anyone who is mobile within their own home, even if they would need a chair to get to a doctor's office or to a grocery store. This also forces many people who could be providing a substantial amount of their own care into significantly more expensive forms of care - that again also provide a lower quality of life. The problem is that people don't like allowing the government to spend money on various types of care, so they cut them as "cost-saving" measures, even though they actually cost more to not provide. But politically, it sells.

Monday March 26, 2012, 12:37 am

Do you think Polititions care about your health????

Monday March 26, 2012, 1:06 am
Thanks.

Monday March 26, 2012, 3:31 am
This simply reinforces in my mind the need for all of us to become active in grass roots groups.We all know there are power in numbers.We have to turn this mess around. Many are brainwashed into believing that the financial problem is due to those on welfare,food stamps, etc...which is simply a smokescreen for the real culprits such as some politicians, corporations, and the war machine etc...this also reminds me of a song..it is lodged in my mind "Money,Money,Money....

Monday March 26, 2012, 5:11 am
Thanks for the article.

Monday March 26, 2012, 5:20 am
Noted, thank you.

Monday March 26, 2012, 10:24 am
Certainly not the GOP

Monday March 26, 2012, 10:35 am
It is so disheartening to see just how far down the few would like to take the rest of us.

Very interesting article Kit. I seems we have to hope and pray each day that we or our family members do not end up disabled.

Monday March 26, 2012, 10:41 am
Anything taken out of context will leave harms that could've been avoided. No man is an island and we will hurt every time we enact changes pretending otherwise.

Monday March 26, 2012, 12:59 pm
This is a great article Kit. Perfect summary, J.L. A. Thanks for sharing.

Monday March 26, 2012, 1:19 pm
But if there is no one to help us - the easier for us to die - eugenics? People get it - they want a lower population - Bill Gates has said and many others and they are not talking about a few but rather a few billion less.

Monday March 26, 2012, 2:57 pm
PCAs, or, personal care attendents, should be receiving excellent wages and benefits- this is a most honorable profession and should be treated as so.

Monday March 26, 2012, 3:22 pm

Actually, the new name of the game is transfer from one long care hospital to a short-term hospital (about 3 weeks) then back to long term hospital and on to another short term care hospital. Those who are dying may or may not spend some time in a hospice, and home care is not covered by all insurance, most people need either a rider or separate policy to cover home care. If you are the nurse or any care provider, you work long hours treat many patients, have to tolerate the hubris and disdain of doctors.

As often as many nurses alternate shifts and change from one hospital to another, they seem to most consistently bother to know the name of the patient and why that person is in the hospital - that is not always true of doctors. That of course is only from repeated personal experience.

Monday March 26, 2012, 4:14 pm
There used to be the question, "What is this world coming to?"

Now, we know.

Monday March 26, 2012, 5:26 pm
this is sad, thanks for sharing this Kit

Tuesday March 27, 2012, 1:37 am
In my state, many Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA's) and Certified Med Aides (CMA's) who work in Home Health and nursing homes were forced off of welfare because of so-called welfare reform. They must try to find work that they can survive on. There are no unions for them.

This profession is one where they can get trained quickly and get paid more than minimum wage. Of course many flock to these jobs, whether or not they have the temperament and caregiving aptitude required by the job. They certainly deserve to make a decent wage, and they usually can't make ends meet unless they work 60 or more hours/week.

They must often pay child care providers, and may get public assistance for this, because they can't afford it. It makes one wonder if everyone would be better off if they just stayed home if they have young children. Both they, and child care workers are paid pretty low wages. It is telling of our society's values that we don't put any premium on caring for those unable to care for themselves.

Tuesday March 27, 2012, 8:25 am
Being a healthcare worker for almost two decades, I realize that without them, people are right. Many, many, many will die. This is a profession that knows no holidays, does not run on a 9 to 5 schedule and is not a glamorous job in any sense of the word. But it is a very fullfilling job. They learn to trust and depend on you. And in many cases, you come to love those you take care of. This is not a job where you can come to work and just collect a paycheck. This job takes heart and soul (and a little muscle, I might add), but without those who take care of others, just think for a moment, really think where these poor people would be.

Tuesday March 27, 2012, 3:49 pm
currently primary caregiver for a dying friend. Trade work for food/lodging and paying 1/2 utility bills. He can't afford a caregiver and is relying on 2 of us friends who are currently not working. It is a 24/7 job. What savings he has is paying for night relief worker (non agency) so I can get a few hours sleep, then back to feeding, bathroom, etc.
Be real nice to your friends because if your relatives live far away and you have no medical...you will need them!!!!!