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Medical care here when we moved was not a major consideration. Since we moved in state, we knew that we could take the longer drive back to Walter Reed Bethesda for my wife to seeing the same specialists. Fortunately we have several well regarded hospitals in town and others within 30 - 45 minutes away. The major ones are Riverside Doctors Hospital, Sentara Regional Medical Center and Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital.
We actually live just 5 minutes from Sentara.
And there's a business/medical condo complex before we get to Sentara. I usually walk to my dental appointments.
Local healthcare was somewhat important in our decision for a retirement location. We originally bought land in the North Carolina mountains for our retirement home. But as our medical situations changed with age, having just a small local hospital and having to drive over an hour to Ashville for most specialists became less and less attractive. But on the other hand living in or near a large city was not on our agenda.
The regional healthcare here in Cookeville has been a good compromise for us. We have been satisfied with the regional hospital and the various specialists in the area and we can be at any of them within 10-12 minutes. And when my wife developed a very rare reaction to cancer immunotherapy treatment, Vanderbilt Medical in Nashville is less than a two hour drive. And the doctors at Vanderbilt have been great about coordinating with our local physicians about her ongoing treatment. And if something should happen where we had to get there in a hurry, our hospital is associated with Vanderbilt with a helicopter base here.
Living in the greater NYC area, I had always taken excellent health care for granted.
Lots of excellent doctors including concierge medical practices and lots of excellent hospitals, including specialized care hospitals such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the Hospital for Special Surgery.
I'm in Florida now, and while choices are available, they are more limited.
Recently a friend asked about moving to another state, and I advised him that there were no high-level trauma centers near his chosen town. For advanced medical issues, a helicopter ride would be in his future.
Not a factor. I'm healthy and intend to stay that way. But then, I haven't actually moved anywhere permanently as a geezer.
However, if I were to become inflicted with multiple myeloma, as a friend was 20 years ago, then perhaps I'd then choose to move elsewhere for convenient and quality treatment.
That's what he did, moving from Kapoho, Hawaii to Tucson, Arizona. He's doing great, BTW.
In regards to brightdoglover's post, another friend of mine living many miles outside of a remote Alaskan town suffered a burst appendix and damn near died before he could get to the hospital in Juneau.
So, the possibility of a sudden emergency situation arising could become more important as a person ages. OTOH, there are plenty of old folks in rural AK settings who wouldn't for a moment entertain the idea of moving to an area with better health care services. As for him, he remains in the latter camp.
As a fellow Alaskan I feel much the same way. After all, there are reasons I've chosen to live here versus some major metro area with all the trappings and conveniences. People make all sorts of choices about what they must have right at their fingertips. Mine doesn't happen to be healthcare. There's no way I would ever give up all the great aspects of a rural AK life just to have convenient access to every specialist or advanced procedure. If some major health problem takes me out before I can reach it, so be it! I refuse to spend my days worrying about personal health problems and I have no interest in living forever.
Last edited by Parnassia; 09-06-2023 at 03:02 PM..
Not a factor. I'm healthy and intend to stay that way. But then, I haven't actually moved anywhere permanently as a geezer.
However, if I were to become inflicted with multiple myeloma, as a friend was 20 years ago, then perhaps I'd then choose to move elsewhere for convenient and quality treatment.
That's what he did, moving from Kapoho, Hawaii to Tucson, Arizona. He's doing great, BTW.
I'm glad to hear that. Once a year I get tested for multiple myeloma.
As a fellow Alaskan I feel much the same way. There's no way I would ever give up all the great aspects of a more rural AK life just to have convenient access to the best healthcare. If some major health problem takes me out before I can reach it, so be it! I refuse to spend my days worrying about personal health problems and I have no interest in living forever.
Sometimes it is not about a medical situation taking you out before you can reach proper care. Sometimes it is about a medical situation that makes your life miserable and can be a long and drawn out downslide without proper medical treatment. But the right medical treatment can make your life much better.
Sometimes it is not about a medical situation taking you out before you can reach proper care. Sometimes it is about a medical situation that makes your life miserable and can be a long and drawn out downslide without proper medical treatment. But the right medical treatment can make your life much better.
I never said I have NO ACCESS to medical care! I just have to make more of an effort to reach it! If I decide I'm miserable enough I will.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Clemencia53
Eh - I used to say that once I got older, I would be moving to the medical center area of San Antonio. Lots of good hospitals there.
But now I am older, and really do not care. Whatever happens, happens.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRR
Sometimes it is not about a medical situation taking you out before you can reach proper care. Sometimes it is about a medical situation that makes your life miserable and can be a long and drawn out downslide without proper medical treatment. But the right medical treatment can make your life much better.
and the wrong medical care can give you miserable years of disability. (More than a few friends suffer due to botched medical procedures.) A very healthy and active uncle was a quad for 15 yrs due to a mistake in elective surgery.
I'm taking the first bus outta here.
It's been good while it lasted.
If I needed good medical care in the USA, I could never afford it, or have the advocates to assure it.
I know I'm better off getting that overseas (if I wanted it, which I don't).
So many friends in the USA have exited leaving impoverished spouse due to costly medical procedures to 'prolong' their agony. I'm not interested in that.
I never said I have NO ACCESS to medical care! I just have to make more of an effort to reach it! If I decide I'm miserable enough I will.
My apologies; I didn't intend to hit a nerve
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