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Please, my use of the word client wasn't intended to cause any arguments. As the writer of the post, my intent carries some weight, right? We really do have better things to argue about.
Happy, I'll check with my husband to see whether I am qualified to work as operator in my old age! Now, that should give him a good laugh! OOOoops, that might be off topic.
I agree. Private charity has its place. I tend to think that these situations involving older, impoverished people tend to be exceptions rather than the rule. I would think the number of people falling into this category is not so huge that it needs an entirely new government program to deal with it. Even if it did, the budget situation with government is so dire today that we can't afford such a program.
A destitute person of any age does have a number of private options they can look at. I will give some examples:
1. Health care. Check out whether a Community Health Center exists in your area. I used to serve on a board of directors for one in my hometown. The center will provide medical care based on a sliding scale that is dependent on the income of the patient. Very often, cheap medications can be obtained directly from the CHC at no cost or low cost because some pharmaceutical companies give them to the CHC for this purpose. Flu shots and pneumonia shots can be obtained for free.
2. Food. Most churches operate a food pantry, bishop's storehouse, or community garden. These churches will typically serve and support non-members as well as their own. It does require that you get up, look around, and ask questions. You might also go to a Senior Center. Very often lunch is provided at no cost, or low cost to all the people who come to the Senior Center. Often a courtesy bus or shuttle is available that will pick seniors up at their home and transport them to the Senior Center and back at no cost. I'm bringing up the government here, but I would suspect a destitute elderly person would be eligible for Food Stamps.
3. Housing. This is probably the most difficult area. However, I would begin by contacting churches again. Very often they do have leads on places where people can get very low cost housing.
4. Clothing. "Good Will" stores are operated by groups like the Salvation Army, Deseret Industries, etc. Used clothing can be obtained at a very low cost for the truly needy.
Wow so the millions on Medicare and Social Security can depend on charity? About a third of the folks in nursing homes are on medicaid, I guesss we can throw them out into the street
A number of churches in my suburb support one community food pantry - which never has enough food - and my suburb is reasonably well-to-do. The pantry is a backstop, of sorts, but really can't be depended upon on any consistent basis.
I still say that if this country would really address how much wasteful spending the government is still participating in today, we would have enough to take care of the elderly poor in this great nation. No granny would be tossed out on the street.
We live in what is unarguably the Bible belt. It's amazing and inspiring how well the churches combine ecumenically and how much they do for the people in need, to include food closets, with not just the cooperation but the active support of the communities to include villages and towns. It's "promoting the general welfare" writ large.
A number of churches in my suburb support one community food pantry - which never has enough food - and my suburb is reasonably well-to-do. The pantry is a backstop, of sorts, but really can't be depended upon on any consistent basis.
My city has food pantries that were always consistant in the past but for the first time in their long history they are running dry faster than ever before. There are just more and more people in need.
A number of churches in my suburb support one community food pantry - which never has enough food - and my suburb is reasonably well-to-do. The pantry is a backstop, of sorts, but really can't be depended upon on any consistent basis.
Many of the churches in my area have the same. Not only that but if a member (mostly older single women) needs something done around the home or her yard or car, there are a few in the church who are skilled and will help with repairs and maintenance.
I still say that if this country would really address how much wasteful spending the government is still participating in today, we would have enough to take care of the elderly poor in this great nation. No granny would be tossed out on the street.
I totally agree but it isn't just the government. Last year I noticed that every time we went to Kaiser, which is often for allergy shots, their employees were bragging about their pay increases and fat retirement accounts while our health insurance costs trippled. Today, they announced their new contract which includes another pay increase and health care for their retired workers. My husband's company charges us for health care and nothing beyond when someone retires, they dispensed with pay increases as jobs went out of the country.
If the government and insurance companies (greed) weren't so wasteful, we could have a better system instead of kicking granny to the curb after her working life has come to an end. This just seems in conflict with the values I grew up with. I am glad to see people like Bill Moyers bringing the winner take all politics out in the open. I hope OWS can get organized enough to support better work and health care for all as the current system just isn't working. It is sad when some young people fear that older people will use up the resources when it is the politicians and 1% who are taking much more than they need. I wish we could all have enough, not taking away from anyone else.
I totally agree but it isn't just the government. Last year I noticed that every time we went to Kaiser, which is often for allergy shots, their employees were bragging about their pay increases and fat retirement accounts while our health insurance costs trippled. Today, they announced their new contract which includes another pay increase and health care for their retired workers. My husband's company charges us for health care and nothing beyond when someone retires, they dispensed with pay increases as jobs went out of the country.
If the government and insurance companies (greed) weren't so wasteful, we could have a better system instead of kicking granny to the curb after her working life has come to an end. This just seems in conflict with the values I grew up with. I am glad to see people like Bill Moyers bringing the winner take all politics out in the open. I hope OWS can get organized enough to support better work and health care for all as the current system just isn't working. It is sad when some young people fear that older people will use up the resources when it is the politicians and 1% who are taking much more than they need. I wish we could all have enough, not taking away from anyone else.
I keep harping on means testing. People retort with "Social Security / Medicare are not welfare." They heck they are not! They are simply dressed up to fool people they are not welfare / redistribution. Assuming there is no way to roll back the so called "mixed economic" (socialist / capitalist / corporatist) system we have any time soon, everyone needs to get over it and accept that these systems are wealth redistribution. So, now that we accept that, how about that means testing.
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