It is sickening, to think that in today’s world, that our elder citizens, are being forced to resort to legal seperation, or divorce, in order to afford living in a nursing home. I find this whole concept to be ass backwards. I really don’t get why, we, as a civilized nations, are so determined to make life a living hell for the elderly.

I know the so called Conservative Approach is that people need to take care of themselves, to look for their own remedies for the future, and not rely on the Government to help them out. A truly interesting theory, but which also assumes that business, would price their goods, services, at a reasonable level, to make a fair return, as well as to maintain a certain quality or standard.  THAT CERTAINLY IS NOT THE CASE TODAY.

As more people enter nursing homes, Veronica Ratchford, a representative from the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents’ Rights, said an increasing number of couples are legally splitting up so they can get government help with the cost of that care. ( source – CBC News )

What is so odd, is that we expect people to be able to take care of themselves, plan for their old age, then do everything we can, to deny them that ability. We import foreign workers, to make it hard to get a decent high paying job, we gut education, so we have less qualified skill people, and we raise the cost of living, to make it nearly impossible for anyone to save for that future old age.    AND THEN WE REFUSE TO HELP THEM COVER THE COSTS, IF THEY ARE MARRIED.

Seems to me, something is out of whack here. I know it takes my income, and David’s income, to allow us to live together, as a family, which include my 92 year old mother. Neither I nor David make huge amounts of cash, even though David earns a decent salary. And yet it is a struggle, to pay the cost of medications, the ancillary costs like depends, rubber gloves.

Perhaps we need to start looking at WHY the costs for Nursing Home Care is so high, and yet the complaints about the standards seem never ending. Perhaps we should be examing the real cost of Health Care, instead of off loading it onto the Provinces, or cutting it back.  Maybe it is time to take a real look at how we are spending our money, and to whom.

It might become boring, but I think I am on a personal crusade, in regards to health care.

There are many who believe in Private Health versus National Health, versus Univeral Health. And there is a difference between National & Univeral Care, in case you were wondering.

Why?

I suppose the simplest answer is, that I am now 54 years old, and mother is 92 years old. And HER health is not getting better, so my inter action with our health services is growing. In other words, I am not a Doctor, nor a Nurse, and my involvement with our Health Care is from the perspecitive of one using it. 

Maybe that makes a difference, maybe not. The point is, at some point in everyone’s life, they are going to need health care. If you are young, just starting out, you may not think you will, but rest assured, YOU WILL.

For example did you know that Canada is ranked  THIRTY (30) in the world, and the giant to the south of us, the United States is ranked THIRTY SEVEN (37) ? ( source )

After spending some time just yesterday, in our emergency care system, I can honestly tell you, that growing old, is not something our health services knows how to deal with. And let us be honest, WE ARE ALL GOING TO REACH THAT STAGE OF LIFE.  The point is, we do not treat our Seniors with respect, with dignity. We treat them, and most other patients, BY THE NUMBERS.

To me, that somehow seems wrong.