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Oh, geez, now I've got "We're off to See the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz" singing in my head!!! Thanks, Livecontent!
"Ding dong, the witch is dead, the witch is dead..." oh those songs.....
Of course, being short, I do get the nickname "munchkin" sometimes, so maybe it's appropriate -- now, where's that house when you need it to drop on you???
P.S. Can I bequeath the ruby slippers to my daughter???
You may not have known this but the Mayor of the Munchkins lived in Western New York. I saw him when he managed a Buffet Restaurant somewhere up in Niagara County--I cannot remember the name. This was about 50 years ago. He was quite identifiable but a little older and pudgier. I can remember reading about him in the Buffalo Evening News and he said that he did not like to talk about the movie.
I think that living wills; which hopefuly most have; lets you address the subject. I just hope more boomers address things like their funeral cost etc before leaving it to their relatives to deal with.As far as assisted suicide; I do not bel;ieve in it as a christian.From what I saw only Oregon has assisted suicide .
This is included in the health care directive. In California.
Which brings up something else - all states are different when it comes to the paperwork. At least it seems so.
That is probably true that there are difference in all the states. The point I am trying to make is that may not be able to prevent resuscitation or procedures to extend your life, living will or no living will.
A emergency responder or even somewhat trained in CPR is going to immediately start rescue procedures. With the new CPR directors of more forceful pressure, they may very well break your ribs in starting your heart. Once you get to the hospital the same quick emergency procedures will happen with breathing tubes etc. So the best bet is to prevent any rescue and movement to a hospital.
I've had my Medical p.o.a and Advance Directive since the Terri Schiavo fiasco. No will, no durable p.o.a. Definitely need to draft the latter.
I have LTC insurance, but may cancel it at some point. I don't care for the home care coverage - 50% of the nursing home coverage. When I purchased it, I wasn't really concerned with old age as much as having a stroke at the age of 55+ and burdening my children before they hit their third decade of life. But I am not particularly adverse to "burdening" them when I am much older.
After reading the prior thread, I went back and reread the GAO report(s) regarding Long Term Care. Medicare ran a deficit in 2008 and continues to do so. It is not sustainable. Prior to retirement, we contribute 1.5% of our salary to obtain Part A (hospital) coverage. Big deal. Is it any wonder that the program is floundering? Seventy-five percent of the Part B premium is picked up by the taxpayers, with the remaining 25% covered by the insured. Medical Assistance (Medicaid) is partially paid by the Feds and the States. My understanding is that Medicaid is the fastest growing welfare program because of the rise in Long Term Care expenditures. I suspect that there will be major changes to eligibility, perhaps including (I hope) a major overhaul of the regulations that allow folks to give their homes and other assets to their children in order to become eligible for "free" nursing home care.
As for suicide - no one is really stopping people from "offing" themselves. I mean, think about it, people do it everyday.
Lenora - I seem to remember that there is a 5 year period from the time you give your home to your kids and the time you enter a nursing home or the state can step in. Personally - why not give it to them? Why let the obscene prices of nursing homes eat youir life savings?
Lenora - I seem to remember that there is a 5 year period from the time you give your home to your kids and the time you enter a nursing home or the state can step in. Personally - why not give it to them? Why let the obscene prices of nursing homes eat youir life savings?
P.S. How are you doing with all the snow?
I do not agree that it is always a good idea to "gift" your wealth to your children, to avoid paying a nursing home. If you are wealthy, it is not going to make a difference. If you have a excellent pension and retirement income, you still may not qualify for Medicaid and even if you do, your pension will be taken to offset the remaining costs. If you are poor, I would keep the money to help get into a better nursing home and provide other help when you are older. Let your children fend for themselves.
I do not think that the nursing homes costs are obscene when you look at it at a hourly rate. If a mid-cost nursing home is let say $185 a day then the cost is $6.17 an hour. There is big services in that amount from meal, laundry, RN and other specialist, physical facility, equipment etc.
People who have money must not be allowed to avoid paying because the costs then will pass on to the entire program, so I would not extent asset exclusion programs. You will then shift the costs with higher taxes and get lower levels of service and facilities. It would be wiser and simpler that Long Term Care is fully provided for everyone, regardless of income and assets and let it be paid with much higher taxes, up front.
Last edited by livecontent; 02-11-2010 at 05:50 PM..
It would be wiser and simpler that Long Term Care is fully provided for everyone, regardless of income and assets and let it be paid with much higher taxes, up front.
I disagree. Especially with the 'simpler' - Ha - we're talking about government programs.
There more than a few who do not want Long Term Care. More than a few who will not need it. More than a few that will refuse to go inside one of those places. And more than a few that are vehemently opposed to being taxed for another wasteful medical program.
I do not think that the nursing homes costs are obscene when you look at it at a hourly rate. If a mid-cost nursing home is let say $185 a day then the cost is $6.17 an hour. There is big services in that amount from meal, laundry, RN and other specialist, physical facility, equipment etc.
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Reality is the hourly is much higher than that - how much time do you think is really spent on each person per day? Minimal, at best. I think whatever SS benefits you receive should suffice - minus some personal spending money.
Reality is the hourly is much higher than that - how much time do you think is really spent on each person per day? Minimal, at best. I think whatever SS benefits you receive should suffice - minus some personal spending money.
What you are describing simplistically is the Medicaid benefits that will take your social security and pension and pay the costs. Yes, your idea is good but be prepared to pay the taxes to support that program. I would pay it gladly but others want benefits without paying a cost.
No, the care spend on every patient is not minimal; it is what they need. Some need more and some need less. You still have to have the caregivers there, whether they need it or not. One big cost is to have an RN available when the need arises. If the RN only see the patient only for meds--it is still a cost as the RN is there overseeing the care, managing meds and supervising CNAs. There are also many other costs and specialist from Speech, Rehab to Dietetics. The building and equipment still has to be there; it does not just appear when there is a need.
The idea that the care is minimal and not existent in most nursing homes is just mostly nonsense and anecdotal. I can see for myself the care that is given to my mother and I can see the hours that are spend in that care. Yes there are difference in facilities and patient care but it all are audited and measured by state and federal standards of care.
I have seen many nursing homes and I have not yet seen one that is the popular terrible depiction that many people want to think. Even my own personal experience in a Nursing Home, where I was in a VA nursing home ward, years ago (which do not exist anymore)--was not the tale of despair that people like to spread.
Livecontent
Last edited by livecontent; 02-11-2010 at 07:33 PM..
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