"There's No Reason..."

"There's no reason I can't just go home. The aides could come in daily, like they did before."
The only reason you can't, my dear Medicaid patient friend, is that the government now has you in their sights. Your life is no longer your own. You were evaluated and found to be needy, so you went to the Skilled Nursing Facility, accompanied by large, long sighs from all your relatives and friends.
"It's best for her." "None of us could have made the 24/7 commitment that was required." "She'll be with other people, so she won't be lonely." "They will take care of all her needs."
And, they have. But now the SNF is closing. So "they" are having to "place" you in another safe environment. I doubt very much that going home will meet their perameters. So you will probably have to be much farther, geographically, from your beloved home and friends. You will not get as many visits. You will feel betrayed. You will fall into depression. You will probably succumb.
Of course, old people do that wherever they are. At least you were "safe".

Did you hear?

There is an atheist group that is promising to care for the pets of those who disappear at the time of the rapture! For only $100, you can be sure that Fido and Muffy are cared for upon your being "caught up". The atheists, of course, are laughing their heads off, since they don't believe in this event. Those who do believe think it's a small price to pay for pet insurance. Of course, we're not sure who is going to legislate all this animal care. I'm sure those left behind will have far greater problems than doling out the kibbles and bits.

Skilled Nursing Facility

"To generate enough revenue to run the program, the hospital would need a $10 million endowment or a skilled nursing unit with at least 100 beds...."
This was the statement of the CEO of the hospital at the public meeting Thursday evening.
It's all business. Medicaid pays $155 a day for each Medicaid patient; the cost for each is $237. Although the rate has supposedly gone up to $203 a day, those funds have not come in....and they are still short.
Do we believe in business? Or in miracles?
A committee of concerned citizens is planning to work on the second option, knowing in advance the dreary financial picture for the local, state, and federal governments. If a miracle occurs, I'm thinking it will take supernatural help and private, not public, finances.

Old and Helpless

Our local hospital announced this week that it will be closing the Skilled Nursing Facility, in which reside about 30 oldsters. This was decided upon because the outgo (financial) is greater than the income. Over 90% of the residents are there through the generosity of the government program of Medicaid. Apparently the generosity has run out.
Where will these folks go? Who will care for them? Several of them cannot care for themselves in any way. Others are just frail and forgetful. The area nursing homes are full. The families are preoccupied with keeping themselves and their households afloat in these perilous times.
Is this Obamacare before it even begins? They say they will not put anyone out. But what will be their choice, if individuals cannot find a place to live?
Stay tuned for later developments.

Honest!

I know you'll have a hard time believing this, but it's true.
During the 44th Super Bowl game, after observing the football knowledge exhibited by Sean Payton, the Saints' coach (not to be confused with Peyton Manning, the Colts' quarterback--who actually didn't have much of a chance to exhibit his vast knowledge of the same subject) I really and truly DID call the on-side kick that turned the whole game upsidedown and way around, to the point where the New Orleans Saints, sentimental favorite simply because their sponsor city has had a really bad stroke of luck for the past several years, actually won their Very First Super Bowl! Honest. I did.

"Facebook"

My daughter got me into it when she wanted me to be her friend.
My husband warns of viruses I can get when I use it.
My son's posts are cryptic, usually referring to some game he's playing on it.
I have friends from my high school class, students I taught in high school, and some present-day high schoolers as friends.
Most of my friends are female, so the topics include weather, baby puke, crock pots, and boredom.
The thing I like most about "Facebook" (or "fb") is the reaching out and touching.
It's sort of like a gigantic chat room, where you can read each other's posts without having to sit right there and participate.
Depending on your station in life, you can waste time, receive inspiration, or communicate with relatives you haven't even met.

just wonderin'

Have you seen any muscilage lately? The kind in the little "coke-shaped" bottle and the rubber tip with the slit in it? We have Elmer's glue and super glue and airplane glue, but I haven't seen the bottle glue. Of course, I remember when paste at school came in gallon containers and the teacher would dole out a lump to each artist. So maybe I'm behind the times?
Anyway....just a random thought from my random mind.