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Date Posted: 00:18:28 09/12/07 Wed
Author: AssieKay
Subject: Re: Well...
In reply to: Logan 's message, "Well..." on 03:31:43 09/11/07 Tue

Logan, first let me start by saying THANKS for thinking I'm that much younger than you are :)

Nursing homes aren't a pretty picture... no arguement there.

My parents (and more recently, my husband and I)have a long-term health care policy. Regular medical insurance and medicare don't come close to covering what you need when you become incapacitated. Like any insurance, there are many companies and many different types of policies and coverages. My dad was SO lucky to be able to have in home care for his last month when he could no longer walk. My mom weighs all of 90 pounds and was physically unable to take care of my dad's needs. I don't live near enough, and both of my brothers and sister in law work, so it was imperative that they had somebody to come by a couple of times a day to tend to him.

His hospital stay was brief... went in Sunday, was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer on Tuesday, released to go home Friday afternoon and died that night, thankfully at home surrounded by his family.

My mother's biggest fear is that one day she'd be put in a nursing home, which is why they got that policy to start out with. Having long-term health insurance makes a HUGE difference. You should check it out.


Now that a few months have gone by, I realize that the couple of things we found frustrating were compounded by the fact that we were a: exhausted, b: scared, c: sad, d: stressed beyond belief. My dad wasn't the only patient waiting to be sent home that day, nor was he the only one waiting to have a CT scan two days prior. Things don't happen quickly in a hospital, generally speaking. That's the way it is. All in all, I would say our hospital experience was pleasant, except for the fact that they couldn't fix my dad; but he was nearly 81 years old and lived a very full and rewarding life. (and he smoked for a gajillion years so we were amazed it took 69 years for him to get lung cancer.. yes he started at age 12. sheesh)

Many nursing homes do have "advocates for the elderly"... there is a term they call these volunteers, but for the life of me I can't remember it. Jenn, do you know? I have a friend who is one at a local nursing home. She is assigned to a patient she doesn't know, and is a clear-headed unbiased person who makes sure all the necessary papers are in order (bank, advanced directives, etc...) It's a great way to help out.

PS: After I got my chin up off the floor, I couldn't think of anything to say in response to the Becca story either. LOL

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