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Hell, even many Boomers are still having to take care of their elderly Silent parents.
Like I mentioned before, my dad's mom has fairly severe dementia. She's 87. She fell a few weeks ago, was taken to the hospital, and then discharged to a "rehab" facility. She can stay there until next Friday, at which time she's going to either have to go home or to (preferably) a memory care facility.
Realistically, there's no way she can go home - my grandfather can barely take care of himself, and he's completely unwilling to pay for any sort of home health assistance.
My 65 year old dad, who should be retired, is working nearly full-time, trying to keep up his own property, and spending three or four hours a day in the rehab facility with the grandmother. She's tried wandering off a few times, and that place can and will kick out a patient, so someone has to be basically there to police her.
Aside from the dementia, she's relatively healthy. The other grandmother, 86, is also relatively healthy for that age. My parents could be at least 70 before they are done with the "caregiving" phase. My mother is not in good health, and I don't have much confidence she'll make it much beyond 70.
I'm an older Gen Xer with a teenager still in college, our other kid newly launched and my husband (slightly older Boomer) and I both have parents in their late 80's. Oh, and we still work.
We're looking at downsizing and moving into an active adult retirement community ourselves within the next few years, maybe even within 1 1/2 years. So we have lots of balls in the air at the moment...
But we're whippersnappers compared to the 75 year old guy that we know who is currently helping his 90+ year old mother get placed in memory care. Hopefully, the stress won't kill him.
Well the Boomers are rapidly aging and unless they want to find themselves sitting alone in a poop covered chair with their 70+ year old spouse trying to figure out a way to lift them up, get them into the tub and cleaned off, there needs to be a better way.
And, no, their Millennial children are not going to be rushing to their rescue. You can about count on that.
I am not disagreeing with you on that. The need is not hard to see. It is the solve for the need that less obvious. It is not achieved by posts here but political and societal will to address it in a meaningful way. I, for one, don't see it.
I am not disagreeing with you on that. The need is not hard to see. It is the solve for the need that less obvious. It is not achieved by posts here but political and societal will to address it in a meaningful way. I, for one, don't see it.
I think the solution is not going to come from politicians who only seem to know how to tax and spend us all into oblivion.
This is going to have to be thought out at the societal level - meaning, yeah, we all better start thinking about how this is going to be handled.
I am kinda amused and shocked that some here thing everybody had children or family that can or will look after them in old age. Back in the olden days thats the reason people had 15 kids, first as cheap farm labor and second hopefully at least one of them wealthy and kind enough to look after them in old age.
And yea the system isnt very practical. Home health care is a lot more kind to tax payers than sticking everybody into the urine drenched warehouses with the rapists and abusers and very desperate that will take these kind of jobs. Seriously do you want to wipe bottoms for a career? Then why do you think anybody else does, especially for minimum wage so the investors can make a good return??? Some things shouldnt be FOR PROFIT, and this includes most of health care. Unpleasant but necessary jobs should have significant financial reward for those willing to do them. People that wipe bottoms to put food on the table should be some of highest paid people out there. Cause it aint sunshine and lollipops kind of job.
I think the solution is not going to come from politicians who only seem to know how to tax and spend us all into oblivion.
This is going to have to be thought out at the societal level - meaning, yeah, we all better start thinking about how this is going to be handled.
Excellent post. Getting people to think on the societal level in the first place is going to be the hurdle.
Being in a place where they DO, especially as regards home health care for the disabled, has been an eye-opener, but taxes pay for it, and that is not what many Americans want to hear. It's "why should I pay for others to get care?" rather than "we need to ensure that the elderly members of our society are cared for." It is a different mindset.
I am kinda amused and shocked that some here thing everybody had children or family that can or will look after them in old age. Back in the olden days thats the reason people had 15 kids, first as cheap farm labor and second hopefully at least one of them wealthy and kind enough to look after them in old age.
And yea the system isnt very practical. Home health care is a lot more kind to tax payers than sticking everybody into the urine drenched warehouses with the rapists and abusers and very desperate that will take these kind of jobs. Seriously do you want to wipe bottoms for a career? Then why do you think anybody else does, especially for minimum wage so the investors can make a good return??? Some things shouldnt be FOR PROFIT, and this includes most of health care. Unpleasant but necessary jobs should have significant financial reward for those willing to do them. People that wipe bottoms to put food on the table should be some of highest paid people out there. Cause it aint sunshine and lollipops kind of job.
You're not the first in this thread to express that view.
Excellent post. Getting people to think on the societal level in the first place is going to be the hurdle.
Being in a place where they DO, especially as regards home health care for the disabled, has been an eye-opener, but taxes pay for it, and that is not what many Americans want to hear. It's "why should I pay for others to get care?" rather than "we need to ensure that the elderly members of our society are cared for." It is a different mindset.
Ensure
Yes, I agree. It is the same with veterans and the firemen who developed lung disease from the 9/11 rescue efforts. They had to fight to get medical care when what they do is often heroic, somebody ought to do it, but we dont want to pay the taxes that will provide them the care. Only their service.
Same with elders who have contributed and now need care they cannot do themselves.
Last edited by Mightyqueen801; 10-05-2022 at 04:28 PM..
Reason: Typo!
So... given all these issues, will assisted suicide for elders become more prevalent?
Not in my state as the dominant religion does not look kindly to assisted suicide.
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