ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
DEAR ABBY

[Image of Abby]

ABIGAIL VAN BUREN

Dear Abby: You printed a letter recently from a woman who didn't understand why people would not want to go to a nursing home when they get old. You responded that "many are hesitant to give up their independence and familiar surroundings" Or to "surrender control of their lives," and noted that assisted-liv-ing facilities offer a more attractive alternative.

A bill before Congress offers senior citizens and people with disabilities the choice to maintain their independence while remaining in their own homes or live in a group-care facility.

[Subheading] Giving seniors a choice

This bill is the Medicaid Community Attendant Services Act (HB 2020). The bipartisan bill is known as MiCASA (Spanish for "my house"). Anyone eligible for a nursing facility or intermediate-care facility services for the mentally retarded would be allowed to stay in their own home and receive attendant care to assist them in their home or workplace or in recreational or religious activities.

Call or write your representatives in Congress and urge them to support this bill. — Gail B. Kear, Executive Director, Life-Cil/Center for Independent Living, Bloomington, Ill.

Dear Gail: The vast majority of the mail I received in response to the letter from "Living It Up to the End" contained horror stories about the conditions seniors face when they enter nursing homes. Of course, there are exceptions, but the MiCASA bill appears to be the answer to countless prayers.

Dear Abby: As an advocate for nursing home residents, I'm aware of cases throughout the country of abuse and neglect in nursing homes, as well as violations of residents' basic rights. While some very good facilities provide excellent care, many nursing homes violate the law daily. "Living It Up" should spend time visiting local nursing homes. I'm sure many are neither "clean" nor "pleasant."
--Arizona Advocate

Dear Advocate: Nursing home conditions will not improve until families make it their business to stay in close touch with residents, visiting frequently and at various hours, and taking their relatives out as often as possible to pre-vent their becoming isolated.

Send letters to Dear Abby, P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles 90096. For a Personal reply, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

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Donderdag 18 Julie 2013

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Vrydag 6 Desember 2019

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