Nowadays,the importance of nursing homes and home care agencies is increasing because of increasing number of old people and economic depression. However,working condition there is so bad. Now,there is a serious problem about people who are working for these homes or agencies as we see in Nursing Homes Seek Exemptions From Health Law.
According to Robert Pear, many of workers in nursing home and home care agencies are uninsured so far. Therefore,the new health care law was signed 14 monthes ago.This low requires employers of nursing homes and home care agencies to provide coverage to their employees. However,it's not so easy for employers because they can't afford to pay for it. Therefore,they try to find solutions ,seeking an exemption or financial assistance by government.
I think to provide "hands-on care"(2011,2) to the weak in nursing homes or at home is admirable job. Everybody has possibility to be the week such as disabled person or old person.Who can care you if you are in such situation? Nowadays,each individual tend to live their own lives,In other words,they are too busy to care the week in their family. So, we should admit the importance of care-givers in nursing home or home care agencies. Their job is really hard. In fact, the Labor Department reports "the rate of injuries in nursing home is about twice the rate for all occupations"(2011,9). In my opinion, care-givers should get coverage as soon as possible. On the other hand, I can't blame employers in spite of their passivity for offering coverage to their employees because I think they are also victims of economic depression. As Mark Parkinson,president of the American Health Care Association,points out, reimbursement retes for Medicaid and Medicare is not enough, so employers can't afford to offer medical coverage to employees. In my opinion, goverment should support employers more .It seems unfair to task only employers because goverment itself have reduced payments for nursing homes . Government should remark the fact " Medicaid covers about two-thirds of nursing home residents."(2011,6). In addition,I hope care-givers can get enough wages so that they can afford the coverage by themselves.
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References
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References
Robert Pear.(2011,May 15).Nursing Homes Seek Exemptions From Health Law.The New York Times. Retrieved May 15,2011 from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/16/us/16nursing.html
Kuriko raises so many important issues in her post that I'm not sure which I most want to comment on. Perhaps one that is common the money question - who should pay for services such as care for the elderly?
ReplyDeleteShould people be responsible for themselves, or should governments force everyone else to provide charity to those who could not or did not worry about their own future well-being?
Is it right for governments to take people's property and just give it to other people? Since both are taking people's property against their will and without their permission, how is this common behaviour (taxation) different to any other type of stealing?
Kuriko
ReplyDeleteEvery employee should have health insurance especially when you tell us that one who works in nursing home take more risk. The reason is because charity organization doesn’t have much benefit, or they don’t pay their employee very well even they work hard.
I wonder the Government deducts our income for tax but why can’t we get anything back from them. I think the government should find the solution how to make all employees get more benefit with the health insurance by discussing with the company owner or the organization included the insurance company. They should try to fix the problem together because every employee they deserved the best for health care.
Peter
ReplyDeleteI said government should subsidize nursing homes because the reimbursement rates for Medicare were set by government.It causes financial distress to nursing homes. If nursing homes increase charges,their clients will insist the fact they had been paying tax to get Medicare. The only reason to reduce payments for nursing homes is severe budget problems of government. What government is doing is to shift responsibility to nursing homes.It's quite unfair.
Peter
ReplyDeleteTaxation is different from stealing because government is our representation elected by ourselves.Of course, I feel unpleasant for people who don't feel sorry to be helped by using tax ,even though they have enough ability to live by themselves.However,we can't ignore people who are already in trouble.Our generation should prepare for the future by ourselves because we know well government is not reliable anymore.
Kuriko,
ReplyDeleteWhy would being elected by some people allow a government to take everyone's property, including the property of people who did not vote for them?
Do you think that everything a government does is right because it is elected?
And what about governments that are not elected, such as China's?
(Thailand's current government is also not elected and probably does not represent the Thai people or their wishes - but it is definitely legal.)
Kuriko
ReplyDeleteI think, even the home care said it is not good business. In United States as Canada they are grow up, because the elder are increasing. Nowadays those countries are used to using this sort of services for the elders. United States have a big support for nursing home for the homeless, but now it is not enough too. The workers who work part time do not have enough money to pay the health insurance. My opinion is supporting the idea that the nursing home contract must personal for full time, in this way the employee have more opportunities to pay by themselves they health insurance. Another solution involves the insurance companies and government in order to the prices lower. Canada has a program to development nursing home for their elder in Mexico, because Mexico offer a nice weather and low life cost.
Susana,
ReplyDeleteI like your proposal - it sounds a very practical solution to a growing problem, and one that seems to benefit everyone, including Mexico which gets the economic benefits from providing a valuable service to others.