Personally I have had more medical treatment since turning 60. It’s no fun getting old! I am not alone.
I do not need a study to tell me that the people receiving the most medical care are senior citizens. All I have to do is go to local medical care facilities and this fact is quickly verified. Most of the handicapped parking is full. Seniors are more prevalent in the hallways and elevators. So it is no surprise that Medicare is an expensive program.
This week’s Newsweek cover story is “The Case for Killing Granny.” I think it accurately tells the story of most elderly people who have reached the end of life. Families are trying to make the correct decisions and where possible respecting the wishes of that loved one.
The article fairly identifies the fact that doctors and hospitals in the big cities do have high earnings. The fees they charge are not posted anywhere and that is causing government programs to put caps on fees. I do not know any middle income doctors in Los Angeles. Their cries about high malpractice insurance costs run afoul of their propensity for living in high income neighborhoods and driving high end cars.
My own mother is now in a skilled nursing facility. It’s really an extension of the hospital where she stayed for four nights. She has dementia but that is really her only disease. Her entry into the hospital was the result of neglect at a board and care facility. She weighs 96 pounds and that is an improvement from last week’s weight of 93 pounds. She really doesn’t want to eat more food. She is on an intravenous line that hydrates her. This is most likely the end of her life. Her medical power of attorney says take no extraordinary steps to preserve her life. She seems to be happy and so we are visiting her daily. My sister hopes she will recover but that is an unlikely event. A higher power will decide when she will take her final breath.
If we are the highly moral society that is our claim then it is essential that each family decide the measures to be taken to preserve life. This cannot be a determination of government. The federal government took on the financial responsibility when Medicare was implemented. If Medicare, or Social Security, runs short of money then it is society’s responsibility to ensure we are all provided a comfortable retirement and health care too.
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