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Extensive history of elder care in the U.S. ...
Good article, which points out that:
State Assistance Plans Are Little Help
and in response:
Social Security Act Creates National Old-Age Assistance
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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Mahalo PM2 and Sandy. One of the few I guess, even keep an eye on the neighborhood kupuna now that Dad is gone, making sure they are OK and make occasional grocery runs for them or minor fixes they need. Recently built a ramp for a neighbor that had a stroke and now confined to a wheelchair using what wood scrap he and I had laying around. Take care of the neighborhood, and the neighborhood takes care of you.
Community begins with Aloha
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In a way, I guess it comes down to what you know. If, as a kid, you were cared for by parents and family you feel it's the right thing to do when they need the care. If you grew up shuttled off to various childcare facilities, then I guess it would seem appropriate to put the old folks in one.
Back when I was going up I don't believe my parents got any assistance other than tax deductions/exemptions for whatever number of kids claimed on their tax returns. These days you add on tax credits, childcare subsidies etc and I guess it would seem appropriate to expect the same for the elder care - cradle to grave government support for some.
I'm concerned the program would become expensive to run and subject to abuse.
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READ MY LIPS - NO NEW TAXES!
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Everyone's situation is different. We have an elderly relative living with us, probably permanently, since we are the only family left. My partner is self employed and works from home teleconferencing with mainland clients, but if that was not the case we would have a difficult situation on our hands. Medications have to be monitored and administered 4 times a day, and the side effects cause balance and judgement issues at times. If you want to keep your loved ones at home, but all the adults in your house work away from home all day, the options get progressively more limited and expensive as time goes on.
The modest payment they are talking about could allow some families to keep someone home to care for their elders, instead of having to pay far more to put them in either elder day care or a residential facility. Previous generations usually had larger families with someone who stayed home and could take care of the family members as they got older, now we have smaller families and everyone has to work to make ends meet, and people are living longer.
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Perhaps a better idea would be a smaller tax increase, and rather than a state program to facilitate payments, allow a direct tax credit for caregivers. Much lower overhead, and like a dependant credit or child care credit there would be a soc sec number or proof of residency at the caregivers home required
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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READ MY LIPS - NO NEW TAXES!
I find that to be the rallying cry of the lonely, those that have no heart and a lot of selfish me me me about them. Regardless of social economics or political affiliation (but yes it's the Republicans that would tear apart the social underpinnings of our society) it seems that the few that have enough for themselves and have no heart, no desire to understand and be a part of helping others, that would put the idealogical construct of NO NEW TAXES before a serious discussion of the needs of others. Who else would suggest that the needy not be helped?
Personally I feel all that me me me stuff represents all our society is trying to rise above, all that keeps us from realizing the greatness we can become. Caring for others is as close to creating a better society as we can get. I am glad there are some that care, God knows we could use a lot more of it.
Btw, you too can help, if even in a small way. If you go to:
http://www.care4kupuna.com
you can sign a petition in support of the effort to pass the bill that is being reported on in the article linked above. Obviously this effort is in it's very early formative stage but I suspect it will live or die based on how much support it gets in small ways like signing that petition.
edited to add: Thanks for sharing your story shockwave rider, good points all around, and more power to you for taking care of those in your family that need it. It's a blessing for the givers and much as those in need, methinks
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Excuse me, dakine, but when the taxes go to bloated government and its overpaid workers with copious benefits that aren't found anywhere else in the private sector, instead of where the money really needs to go, then yes, NO NEW TAXES.
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Yeah well leilanidude this thread started out making us aware of an effort by lawmakers to introduce a bill that could make the state the first in the nation to offer long-term care benefits to seniors. Raising the excise tax by 0.5% to provide help for ailing and less advantaged senior citizens and their caregivers is very reasonable methinks. As a senior citizen that has been a caregiver myself I am keenly aware of the issue and the burden it brings to the entire family. I can only imagine how those without resources cope with it. As such I find anyone raising the old Republican ideology without actually discussing the need that is being highlighted, and at least offering alternatives, to be a sad example of the state of our community.
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I'm a native Canadian so we have universal health care for our seniors and if need be, we have 'free' senior care in seniors homes. But Ive visited the free state facilities and it's not somewhere I'd want my mom to be, but at least I know that if we were gone she'd have a place to be where she'd be safe, warm and fed.
Currently my MIL is in hospital (totally paid for by our taxes, thank goodness!) and my mother is in a full time seniors home that she pays $1800 a month for, based on her pension income of about $2300 a month, which is fine since she has no other bills.
As it is, both of them have mental health issues and need constant 24 hr monitoring. COULD we manage their care on our own? After ten years of it, I would have to say no, I don't think we could do it anymore.
It's literally 24/7 care needed and with my MIL she needs to be restrained from leaving the house at any point as she is very confused with fast moving Alzheimers. My own mother has bouts of total confusion/psychosis where she doesnt take her meds because she thinks she is well again.
It is exhausting with one, but together, their care needs exceed our ability, not our compassion but our energy and resources - they are a 'full time job' for more than one person, so who would be the breadwinner in our family if we had them at home?
I am VERY grateful for the staff who care for them. They are compassionate, respectful men and women who have my respect and admiration. They do what we cannot do alone.
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