In doing research for a pending article in Christianity Today, I discovered that my mother is a rarity among nursing home residents: someone who pays her own way. Medicaid subsidizes around four out of five nursing home residents.
While it may sound like a good deal for the government to pay the cost of care for an aging parent, it really means that parent has lost control of virtually all assets. The resident must turn over Social Security and pensions to the nursing home (only being allowed to retain a small amount for supplemental health insurance and necessities such as toothpaste). In some states it also means that the government has the right to seize any real property, such as the family home.
In any regard, my mom is paying for both her medicines and nursing home care — which in itself costs $156 a day for a semiprivate room — out of her own pocket. That she can pay that herself is in large part due to the work ethic of my dad, who retired at age 75 after working multiple jobs at once. He had a generous pension from the Presbyterian Church, plus Social Security and a bit of retirement income from working for the Soil Conservation Service. My mom is able to prevent eating up her savings thanks to a special benefit available only to World War II veterans (my dad served as a Navy chaplain).
My mom does benefit from Medicare because she is in hospice care. Hospice has provided her with a special bed to try to help prevent bedsores, an oxygen tank to aid with her breathing, and regular visits from a nurse, two aides, a social worker and a chaplain.
I realize some angry younger people want to put Medicare and Social Security on the chopping block. I’m not sure that’s the best way to cut taxes.
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