States kick grandma to the curb

[sinkingfeeling]

http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/14/news/economy/senior_citizens_elderly_state_budget_cuts/index.htm?hpt=T2

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- For the elderly, state budget cuts could mean no more daily hot meals and exercise classes to help prevent falls. At worst, some could even lose their beds at the nursing home.

These and other lifelines for seniors may disappear as governors and lawmakers slash spending to close an estimated $112 billion in budget shortfalls, advocates say.

Among the most dramatic of the proposed cuts is the severe reduction in Medicaid reimbursement rates to nursing homes in Texas. Facing a shortfall of up to $27 billion, state lawmakers want to reduce the rate by 10%. But payments to nursing homes would plummet by a total of 34% because they would also lose federal matching funds.

This could result in the shuttering of 850 of the state's 1,000 nursing homes, forcing up to 45,000 elderly residents to find other accommodations, said David Thomason, chair of the Texas Senior Advocacy Coalition.

[bobbolink]

1. What are the planned actions to protest these cuts?

[virgogal]

2. I'm old. Why don't they just put us on

an ice floe and shove us out to sea?

Lots of money saved then,huh?

[bobbolink]

8. That has already been proposed by the Regressive Rep from the great state of NH.

People have been asked to write to his boss in protest. Please write/call his boss!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x630025

"He doesn't have an email but the House Majority Leader, William O'Brien does: [e-mail]

I think that this guy should apologize. Anyone care to join me in a letter/email writing campaign?"

[virgogal]

9. Bobbolink,,I posted my "ice floe" suggestion with sarcasm and maybe a little

bit of humor.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that someone would actually consider this barbaric treatment. And a 91 year old man at that.

This is one little old lady from MA who would like to drive up to N.H. and give him a good punch in the nose.

Thanks for the link and I will contact Mr. O'Brien.

[bobbolink]

16. Thank you. Could I please hitch a ride with you?

I'm in the mood for breaking a couple of kneecaps!

Just another day in bizarro world. It makes it clear that no matter how far out we think we can go with sarcasm, they are either already there in real time, or soon will be.

thanks for writing! Being in that target group (along with so many other DUers!) I appreciate your activism!

:yourock: :pals:

[virgogal]

18. We'd show him,woulldn't we? That picture is hysterical,

[roguevalley]

14. you and me both. This isn't america and the federal government

is criminally negligent here in allowing this shit to happen. Anyone who voted for tax cuts for the imbecilic entitlement rich are scum. All of them.

[bobbolink]

19. Come on, rogue.. tell us how you really feel.

Scum, indeed.

I think we could come up with a whole list of words...

ACtually, I think we could make steam rise, and smoke billow....

:hug:

[DCKit]

3. Republicon Death Panels.

Who could'a seen that coming? Besides us.

[Starry Messenger]

4. k&r

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Logan's Run.

Those of us over 30 are in big ass trouble.

[jwirr]

6. This is really going to hit the children of the elderly because they

are going to have to figure out how to take care of grandma. What kind of home health services does Texas have? So this is really another hit at the middle class - the younger workers.

[raccoon]

7. Not only that, even if someone were willing to stay home and care for grandma, most likely that

would mean no health care for the caregiver, unless they're already old enough for Medicare.

[jwirr]

10. Tell me about it - for 45 years I took care of my severely disabled

daughter - today I am paying for it because I did not work the required hours for social security. I am not complaining - I would do it again but what you said is true.

[virgogal]

11. You are being penalized for being a superb mother. It is so

unfair.

Your post brought tears to my eyes.

[jwirr]

12. Thank you but I am very much like most mothers I love my children. nt

[raccoon]

13. I second that, that's so unfair. nt

[Blue_Tires]

15. so it's the GOP who finally bring us the 'death panels'...

[RebelOne]

17. Here in Georgia, the legislators want to reinstate

the grocery sales tax. Seniors (and I am one) are protesting because it would impose a financial burden on those who are on a fixed income (i.e. social security). The prices have already gone sky-high in the supermarkets within the past few weeks. Fortunately, I am a vegetarian, so I don't have to purchase meat, but even the fresh and frozen vegetable prices have risen.

[maryf]

20. Shout about this!

shameless! kr

[Mimosa]

21. Yikes, cut the budget by depriving the weakest

Does anybody remember back in the 1970s (probably early 1970s) there was a dramatic play shown on PBS about a future in which older citizens were mandated to 'get out of the way' and choose to die? The play was about an old male/female couple. I only saw it once, when I was a kid. The heartrending drama stuck in my mind but I have forgotten the name of the play.

Does anybody remember it? I'd really like to look up the play.