In the latest Grey's Anatomy episode last week, Karev was given a medical bill for over 200,000 dollars because he was the next of kin for his wife who had cancer, Izzy, who had absconded in an earlier episode. This small bit of drama rang true in my own life because I had one husband who didn't want to be responsible for hospital bills as the result of my bipolar illness, and current husband who has stepped up the plate with no complaints. I think the fact that loved ones, especially a mate, are responsible for hospital bills of a sick loved one who can't pay for it themselves reveals the political dynamic of caregivers.
Caregivers aren't just the ones who give comfort to their sick loved ones, they are people who might have to make legal decisions, end of life decisions, care decisions, and monetary decisions for those they care for. They have responsibilities and obligations, and I believe that caregivers should have certain rights protected by law and by social conventions. This is why a bill of rights for caregiver's must go beyond the emotional and personal context of caregiving--it should consider the political dimensions as well. I also think caregiving should be an important consideration for the health care bill, especially since caregivers provide much medical aide often for free and on a volunteer basis that is essential in public health and healthcare in general.
We have certain expectations and protections for people who are professional caregivers--we have a whole health care industry based on these sorts of caregivers, but the foundation of health care is ultimately the people who caregive out of love or obligation, not pay. Anyone of us could become ill, and there should be some method to designate certain people as caregivers, who have certain obligations and rights. We are encouraged to have living wills to designate care in critical circumstances--caregiving should also be a planned consideration as well.
To consider caregiving as a political, legal, medical, and social function entails a paradigm shift. It means making caretaking visible. It means talking about what it means to be a caregiver, and caregivers expecting to be treated with respect in some fundemental ways. It can't just be personal--in this care, the personal is the political, and caregiving must be understood as such...
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Rated.
I truly like the idea of community and group activity. With a support network that understands, a lot of problems would be headed off.
Commendations for bringing this to the forefront and Zumapick!
My mother moved in with me in September 2000. She spent nine months with my brother from October 2001 to June 2002. Otherwise she lived with us. During the last two years of her life she required 24/7 care. Fortunately she was able to match my rather low salary, so I didn't have to work. She had long-term health insurance, but that only paid for 6 hours of home health aides a day. Most of the time I was spending more time being the aides' social worker than they were spending with my mom. Aides were not available at least one third of the time. Most of them were woefully inadequate.
From the time my dad was diagnosed in 1984 to 2001, my mother was an Alzheimer support group leader and the Long Island's group legislative advocate in Washington and Albany. She also worked for long-term health care, speaking to many groups and legislators.
The health insurance bill does not cover long-term health care. It hasn't figured in the debate. This is insane. People have the illusion the medicare covers it. Medicare pays for short-term, part-time aides if you have been hospitalized and you have a condition that will imporove. Even then you would be lucky to get two or three months.
Chronic diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's are not covered. Nursing homes on Long Island and NYC cost about $125,000 a year. Most poor and middle-class people are eligible for Medicaid after they spend down their assets. But Medicaid will go bankrupt if it is paying for the baby boomers' nursing homes.
We need a nonviolent revolution to create a family friendly society; I see very few people realizing the enormity of the challenge.
R~~