The State of Elder Care in the US
The state of elder care in the US has been consistent decline over the past decade or so. New changes brought on by the health care bill may or may not effect current health care for the elderly. Only time will tell.
Currently medicare has undergone some changes in the last few years which is making it difficult for the elderly to afford their prescription drugs. Social Security payments have not increase however the drug costs have gone up significantly. This causes a major problem for senior citizens who can’t afford the cost due to a lack of financial planing for such occasions. Many Americans are estimating that they will need a secure financial plan for retirement. It is estimated that even more elderly will have to make a choice between keeping their homes or paying for the medications they need. There is some government funding programs to help the elderly keep their homes but often times it is just not enough.
Some senior citizens have even decided to leave the country in search of lower prescription costs. This cause a major problem for those receiving social security benefits or veteran benefits. It should be obvious that keeping elderly in the United States is a vital part of are economy which filters money back into our own economical structure. Improving medicare coverage and lowering prescription costs could help keep our citizens in the US.
While some families can afford to support their elders others cannot. The quality of private health care tends to be the highest in the world while government funded health care is at the opposite side of the scale. Government funded health care facilities tend to be lacking in staff and equipment do to the large amount of patience they are expected to treat. Traditionally medicare will not pay for clients to have in home care. This can lead to elderly being forced to live in a government funded elderly care home. While in home care can often cost much less then the day in and day out costs of housing in a home it still is not an option for people who can not afford it.
It is obvious that our care for elder in the US could stand for some serious improvements. On a brighter note we do have some of the best health care systems in the world for those who can not afford heather care in their old age.
