A Good Enough Daughter
As a professional in the field of aging, Sara had seen it all—until her own mother broke her hip at the age of 88 and became profoundly confused, unable to live in her own home. Join Sara on her journey through the strangeness that is dementia while trying to make sense of it all and finding humor in the details. [Editor's note: Sara no longer contributes to Silver Planet, but we have made her archived blog entries available as a service to our readers.]
Reduce Medicare Expenditures?
What does the Obama administration intend to cut or eliminate?
I recently had the opportunity to talk with Paula Span, a well-respected writer in the health care arena, about adult day services and an article she was writing for the Kaiser Foundation. During our conversation, Paula mentioned that she did not particularly want to deal in the politics of aging. I have heard that perspective before among people who write in the aging “space.”
But if not us, then who? Having spent decades working within the field of aging, I have learned a lot about the policies, funding, and politics of aging and long-term care. There are thousands of others in the United States just like me. The advantage we have over most people is our understanding of the interplay between Medicare and Medicaid in the financing of health and long-term care and how policy decisions shape the availability of preferred services.
I try to read almost all of the articles I come across that focus on pending health care reform and its potential or proposed impact on aging services and long-term care. Almost without exception, the articles I have read discuss how important it is to cut Medicare so that we can afford to pay for health care for the millions who have none. Sounds like the same old saw: old people have an obligation to get out of the way and make room for younger generations.
I am not against contemplating cuts for any government program. I think everything should be on the table. For an interesting take on how America can get out from under a growing financial burden, read Felix Salmon’s “Quick Fixes” in the July/August 2009 issue of The Atlantic. Salmon points out that dozens and dozens of government programs could be modified or cut to pay for universal health care, so why must we begin the cutting with “reducing Medicare expenditures” for the older and disabled Americans who are fortunate enough to have health care now?
I think we have to ask a lot of questions—and soon.
By Sara Myers
A Good Enough Daughter Blog
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