More Seniors Struggling In Current Economy

[MercyL]

While people who worked all of their lives, and played by the rules they were given, the banks, corporations and "investment" advisors stole the future.
Yes, it sucks that older folk - that's us - face homelessness and hunger.

When my doctor asks why I don't have mammograms or other screening procedures I tell her its a quality of life issue. My life's quality won't be helped by my knowing I have developed a disease or disorder because I cannot pay for the treatment, and face homelessness and hunger if I live past 69.

That's reality, in a nutshell.

 

[Anne]

While people who worked all of their lives, and played by the rules they were given, the banks, corporations and "investment" advisors stole the future.
Yes, it sucks that older folk - that's us - face homelessness and hunger.

When my doctor asks why I don't have mammograms or other screening procedures I tell her its a quality of life issue. My life's quality won't be helped by my knowing I have developed a disease or disorder because I cannot pay for the treatment, and face homelessness and hunger if I live past 69.

That's reality, in a nutshell.

MercyL, don't they have free or very low-cost screenings in your area at times?? We get mailings notifying us of those; usually mammograms, but other tests, also.

 

[MercyL]

MercyL, don't they have free or very low-cost screenings in your area at times?? We get mailings notifying us of those; usually mammograms, but other tests, also.

You just did what most people do.

Screenings are free. But...the treatments are too expensive. So you find out you have some treatable condition. How do you pay for the treatments? The treatments are not free, just the screening revealing the problem!

Do the mailings tell you how much the treatment will cost?

 

[Jillaroo]

Here in Australia Mammograms are free to every woman over the age of 50, it's a shame that the government in America don't do this as Mammograms are expensive.

 

[Diwundrin]

Our treatments are ostensibly free too if the worst result is found. But, the waiting list for free hospitalization and surgery is growing by the day.
Private health insurance is also rising at an alarming rate and is fast getting beyond the ability of retirees to pay.
It seems that the only ones who can afford private health insurance are the young fit and healthy with jobs, who are the ones least likely to need it.

America's health system is beyond my comprehension, actually OZ's is getting that way too lately, so we would be comparing apples with oranges. The only thing they seem to have in common is that they are both becoming beyond affordable, either to individuals, or even to Governments, State or Federal.

 

[Anne]

You just did what most people do.

Screenings are free. But...the treatments are too expensive. So you find out you have some treatable condition. How do you pay for the treatments? The treatments are not free, just the screening revealing the problem!

Do the mailings tell you how much the treatment will cost?

Not that I've seen, but my thinking is at least you know earlier - whether you choose alternative treatments or mainstream, it's better to know early than too late. I'd rather catch a problem before I ended up with extreme pain and/or a terminal illness, if there's a chance it could be reversed if caught in time.

 

[SifuPhil]

While people who worked all of their lives, and played by the rules they were given, the banks, corporations and "investment" advisors stole the future.
Yes, it sucks that older folk - that's us - face homelessness and hunger.

When my doctor asks why I don't have mammograms or other screening procedures I tell her its a quality of life issue. My life's quality won't be helped by my knowing I have developed a disease or disorder because I cannot pay for the treatment, and face homelessness and hunger if I live past 69.

That's reality, in a nutshell.

Totally agree, for certain diseases / illnesses. They tell me that I should be going every year to the doctor to let him put on a glove and play the hokey-pokey with my nether regions. Nuh-uh. I didn't even let Bubba do that back in County when I was a more "captive" audience, so why should I do it as a free man?

Why would I PAY to have it done? And not even get dinner out of the deal? No way!

I've seen too many people in chemo / having surgery / being on a warehouse-full of drugs, and frankly if those are my choices I choose not-knowing and death. I might be a Guinea but I'm not a pig ...

 

[dbeyat45]

Do you still have nether regions, Phil ?? They took mine out .....

 

[SifuPhil]

Do you still have nether regions, Phil ?? They took mine out .....

Mine are still there, technically. It's just that the northern region has been deemed "a zone devoid of life-sustaining properties" and the southern region has a strong border patrol in effect. :dread:

One wonders what effect a polar reversal would have ...

 

[dbeyat45]

[ Snip ]
One wonders what effect a polar reversal would have ...

Not the same as a sex change, I suspect.

 

[SifuPhil]

Not the same as a sex change, I suspect.

I agree. I have neither the desire nor the finances for that operation, but had I the desire I would probably just use the old string-tied-to-a-doorknob method that works so well for pulling teeth ...

Of course, with my luck the person slamming the door would slip, so I'd end up being just half the man I used to be.

 

[That Guy]

While people who worked all of their lives, and played by the rules they were given, the banks, corporations and "investment" advisors stole the future.
Yes, it sucks that older folk - that's us - face homelessness and hunger.

When my doctor asks why I don't have mammograms or other screening procedures I tell her its a quality of life issue. My life's quality won't be helped by my knowing I have developed a disease or disorder because I cannot pay for the treatment, and face homelessness and hunger if I live past 69.

That's reality, in a nutshell.

My feelings exactly, MercyL.