Who should pay for their care? Strangers or themselves?

[southerngale]

I didn't write this...just wondered if anyone didn't agree with what the state is trying to do.



MY, HOW THE FREELOADERS WHINE

The Atlanta Journal Constitution has a story today about poor Ruby Fair. Ruby, you see, is 91 years old. She lives in a nursing home. Since 2001 the taxpayers of the State of Georgia have been paying for her stay. Ruby Fair owns 162 acres of land in east Georgia. Now the state of Georgia wants to take that land and sell it so that the taxpayers can be reimbursed for Ruby's care.

Oh man ... you should hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth going on over this plan. Ruby's children asked if state officials were "going to bear down this hard on our elderly population and go for the jugular vein?" Hey, kids. The taxpayers have been forking over big bucks for a few years not to take care of your mother. Where were you then? Were you whining about the state using its police power to seize money from people you don't even know to pay for your mother's nursing home care? Does it occur to you that these people had something else they could be spending that money for? Maybe they had medical expenses in their own family that needed to be covered. Maybe they were behind on their mortgage, or needed repairs to their car. Did that bother you? No, you just stood by and watched the state use its police power to seize money from complete strangers to care for your mother. I sure would be interested to find out just how much you two were willing to dip into your savings to pay for your mother's medical care. But hell, why should you? Why even bother when the state will take care of it all for you!

We all know what the deal here is, don't we? Ruby Fair's kids will get those 162 acres once she gets tucked in for that eternal celestial dirt nap. Now the state is threatening to take that land, sell it, and reimburse the people who have been taking care of Ruby Fair while her children dreamed of inheritances.

Then we have William Morris. He's quoted in the article also. His wife's uncle is in a Fairburn nursing home at state expense. Evidently the wife's uncle has some assets that the state is eyeing. William Morris says "this is theft ... hard-core theft." Pray tell, Mr. Morris, what is it when the government takes money away from me to pay for your relative's nursing home stay? Let me see if I get this straight: You take money from me to pay for your wife's uncle's medical care, no problem. You make your uncle pay the costs of his own care and that's theft. Yeah, I think I get it. You were educated in a government school, weren't you?

The run isn't over. We also have William Pinkney. His parents are both in a taxpayer-funded community health services program. Pinkney says that it was his father's dream to leave his property to his children and grandchildren. "Unfortunately with this proposal, their American dream just went away." OK .. now let me get this straight. Your version of the American dream is to use the police power of government to force other people to pay medical bills for your parents so that their estate will remain intact for you to inherit when they die. Fascinating.

How did we ever arrive at the point in this country where Americans think that they have some sort of an enforceable right to reach into the pockets of complete strangers to get the money to cover their personal needs? Oh, I forgot. Democrats. Democrats and government schools.


http://boortz.com/nuze/index.html

[coriolis]

Well if the children really wanted the inheritance, they should have taken their mother in and cared for her themselves.

In this state, I think that the elderly must liquidate their assets before the state will pay for their nursing care.

[Stephanie]

Good point Ed.

I agree with the state.

[Anonymous]

I agree as well... State funded care is for people who can't afford it themselves. Having 162 Acres of land doesn't sound very poor to me. If the family wanted, they could've just sold some of the land to take care of her instead of using taxmoney--then they might would've had something in the end.

[Stephanie]

The family could've bought the land from her as well.

[Lindaloo]

I just think it is a shame that these children are more concerned with their own welfare than they are with their own Mothers. I say KUDOS to the state for taking the land. I hope they succeed.

A friend of mine has a Mother who is suffering from Alzheimers. He is taking care of her at home. He is to be commended.

[weatherwunder]

My mother is suffering from Alzheimers, and my father took care of her at home until it got to the point where he could no longer do it. He had her at home for 8 years. She was struck by it at age 55 (very young).

She is now in the Masonic Home in Plattsmouth, NE. where she is getting awesome care.

Not a day goes by that I do not think about her. I nearly crushed my father to have to put her there, but his health was begining to suffer for the lack of sleep. She would get up and try to get out of the house at night.

My father gave almost $80,000 to the Masonic Home for her care. He did not have to go to that extreme, but felt it was his duty to help pay for her care.

The hardest thing about the whole situation is when I went to their house one day, and she was scared of me because she did not know who I was.

I need to stop now, because I feel like I am going to cry! (again).

-Jeff

[Lindaloo]

Your Father is to be commended too weather! My friend is only 42 and single.

I am so sorry to hear that about your Mother! (((HUGS)))

[Stephanie]

Home care, particularly for Alzheimer's is very difficult. After a while the caregiver, be it a spouse or the children do have to put that person into a home because the demands are too great.

I'm sorry to hear about your Mom, Jeff. Yes, Lindaloo, your friend is definately to be commended!

[Guest]

I agree somewhat with this. My only problem is with the high cost for all this. Our health care cost is outragious in this country.

Personally my mother will never be left in one of these places if or when she is that bad off. She worked in these places and its so sad to see and hear about so many people that are brought there and then forgotten about by thier (Supposed loved ones).

And yes Linda your friend is to be commended.

[Rainband]

We all know what the deal here is, don't we? Ruby Fair's kids will get those 162 acres once she gets tucked in for that eternal celestial dirt nap. Now the state is threatening to take that land, sell it, and reimburse the people who have been taking care of Ruby Fair while her children dreamed of inheritances.

Another reason to hate boortz. CRUDE!!! IMHO