(Snippets from the frontline)
Aging and the palliative care white knight
Aging: Moving slower, sleeping more, vision and hearing woes, weakened strength, imbalance, memory problems.
Consequences: Less vacuuming, sweeping, dishes accumulating, clothes not washed, bathing less.
Families attempt to assist aging loved ones living at home, but sometimes outside agencies must be brought in, which have high out-of-pocket expense.
Many Medicare recipients don’t know it does not pay for in-home care unless recently discharged from the hospital, and this is only for a short period. Therefore, seniors and their families must fend for themselves, or pay privately. Most cannot.
A white knight appears saying we can provide this care, paid for by Medicare through palliative care. Enticed, you agree. But wait, government won’t pay for this so you must be converted to hospice.
Now, you are in a separate Medicare-paying system using an agency which lacks oversight, and sometimes is understaffed using inexperienced caregivers while you are separated from your trusted doctor.
Solution: Shift misused money from lucrative hospice agencies to palliative care so in-home care is Medicare-covered for aging seniors.
That way, they can age in place and remain in their home.
Quality of life will improve, while end-of-life won’t be exploited.
Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D.
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