I have nothing against anyone who earns a living in the medical field or in social services even though I feel it is distasteful to try to get rich off someone else's illness or misfortune.  I just feel that there should be a better way for a person to access services who cannot afford them.

JOURNAL ENTRY #96 Where have I been (part 4)

This is another rant

I have been interested in homeless affairs since the late 1990s.  I have been very interested in elder affairs since roughly 2005.  I have found that both issues are similar.  We will never solve the problems in either issue.

I am slow.  It took me over 20 years to completely realize that this country could eradicate those problems but we are not in the business of helping people.  We are in the business of making money.

I have come to realize that both issues need private and public support.  To assist the homeless, hungry and/or elderly the focus cannot be about profit.  It has to be a joint effort from private industry and the government.  When it comes to the homeless these joint efforts must cover the mentally ill and the unfortunate as well as those who are just unemployable.    It has to be acknowledged that the solution is not a one size fits all answer.

For elder issues we have to come up with an affordable way to assist seniors who are middle-class bracket.  People who make a little more than the requirements for Medicaid.  Maybe granting some automatic discounts for medication and food might help people over 60.   We also have to keep in mind assistance for those with dementia This assistance has to be available on a federal level.

It is about assisting people and not about entitlements.

JOURNAL ENTRY #95 Where have I been (part 3)

August 28

So mom had to get a scope done at the neurologist this afternoon.  She had kidney stones and the doctor wanted to see how bad.  The CAT scan she took last week showed it was a large stone.  As soon as I was told that it involved numbing the area and giving er a needle I knew it wasn't going to happen.  I just got word that she refused it.  This is what happens when you have an alpha female for a mother.  Incidentally months ago the neurologist wanted to keep track of her when she first had the recurrence of the urinary tract infection and she refused..  That was January.    Unfortunately this will not be the end of the story.

JOURNAL ENTRY #94 Where have I been (part 2)

Mom has been good today so far.  I called her for the first time this afternoon  at 3:00 and she didn't sound weird.  She was cooperative and when I reminded her to take her medications she asked questions but she didn't object.  Last night for the second night in a row she gave resistance in taking her medication and didn't want to get ready for bed.  It's probably the urinary tract infection that is making her act difficult and giving her dementia.  No matter what we all are having a hard time.

A lot has happened since Mom started getting these infections more frequently.  The had part about writing blogs involving elder care from a personal experience is that at times it is too personal.  You sometimes have to write about doctors and home attendants and I am not ready to write about that yet.  I am not ready to do that yet.  In time.

JOURNAL ENTRY 93: Where have I been?

My last entry was in April.  I had to take my mother to a rehab after her second stint in the hospital for a urinary tract infection.  To be honest I wasn't much in the mood to write about that experience.  Since then I was busy.  Mom had a third infection a month ago and actually may still have one now according to the doctor.  He set an appointment for her to see a urologist.