You're going to have to take care of yourself. The best thing you can do, is take care of yourself both physically and mentally. This includes both strength training and cardio activity. Both can increase longevity and quality of life
I've heard this before, but it is ironic that during routine physicals and healthcare exams, doctors and nurses never ask about a person's diet. We have a generation where junk food has become acceptable. Better diet would lead to better health outcomes.
I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes a year ago at my “wellness” visit. I didn’t even know that was a thing. Small changes and I’ve lost 20 pounds. Anyone can get used to no sugar in their coffee or on their oatmeal. It beats insulin. My BP, cholesterol and all is where it’s supposed to be. I don’t find junk food acceptable. I’m curious about what happens next and I want to be around to find out.
“The Prediabetes Diet Plan” by Hillary Wright for anyone interested.
I think our current era will be named The Age Of Hypocrisy. The nursing home crisis is an extension of the health care dilemma we are in, and it is so clearly illustrated by the price of milk and gas crisis we are being told we are in by some. If and when a solution or any mitigating action is proposed, it is shot down as Socialist. Health insurance industry is a major market that does not have a real costumer , the providers and the insured alike do battler with them, and the outcome is always the same. Your doctor wastes as much time with them as she spends with you and who is better off for it? The insurance company is better off and you, (who pays them to do it), and the doctors have wasted time and energy trying to get you the care you need took part in a exercise to deny you care. Nursing homes are the final insult when it comes to taking care of the people who took care of us, and they are expensive. There is usually only one outcome from a nursing home. We can fix it so they are a place of dignity and comfort, we don't. We continue to pile dump trucks full of cash on the executives and shareholders of insurance companies while compiling about the cost to house Grandma. Read HR 676, it makes so much sense, it is doable and might actually cost less. Anyone who says we have the best health care in the world hasn't need it yet.
We have been in a “fend for yourself” culture since tax cuts usurped social spending as a prevailing political school of thought. It will take at least a generation to reverse that.
Look up info on the lawsuit for fraud against the Centers owner.
Dubious management and allegations of fraud.
From one article from Skilled Nursing News:
"Hagler and Rosenberg are accused of prioritizing “their personal enrichment by minimizing staffing expenses while maximizing revenue from admissions and ignoring and violating many state and federal laws designed to protect nursing home residents,” according to the lawsuit as reported in the Press of Atlantic City.
The case is ongoing and a New York Supreme Court judge has stated there is evidence of “repeated and persistent fraud” by the owners."
We took care of my mom at home with private care and all of us pitching in. But we were lucky my mom could afford this.
Nursing *Centers* are horrific.
Even Fort Hudson is problematic....my dad had to be there for rehab at one point and my mother ended up wheeling him out of there. It was bad and that was years ago now.
No one seemed to care he was in dirty clothes, (they "lost" his laundry several times even though his name was in his garments), and eventually my mother went down to their laundry room and didn't emerge until she found his clothing.
My dad was a very dignified person, always wore a suit to work, and to see him sitting for hours in dirty clothing was awful.
He ended up with a massive infection that my mother kept insisting a doctor look at. No one bothered, she rolled him out and brought him to ER immediately. He was very very ill and was hospitalized.
Never again will a family member go to a nursing home.
On the bright side, Eddy Cohoes was great....don't know how it is now but was a good place for my dad back then.
Nothing like first-hand experience. My mother spent a year in the Stanton - now Glens Falls Center - about a decade ago and there were some amazing, caring care-givers, but I always wondered if she got the best on staff because I happened to be editor of the newspaper at the time and I was there almost every day at some point. You can never take anything for granted at a nursing home.
Caring for the elderly is hard work. My sister's mother-in-law slapped her caregiver in the face the other day because she was angry about something very minor. She went into the hospital the next day and asked if the caregiver missed her. In so many ways we revert back to those toddler stages. The circle of life can be a challenge when people are in adult bodies but their minds may not be at that stage. It often takes two people to change, wash, dress and assist the elderly. The people that work with the elderly need to be patient and kind but when they are overworked, understaffed and underpaid we have problems. The people who are well off financially can afford to be in well staffed nursing homes. The rest of us pray we never need to go. I wish we were more like some other cultures in this regard. The elderly are revered, appreciated for their wisdom and respected. That isn't something you see often in the United States. Often they become invisible.
My mother spend 18 months at a local nursing home more than 10 years ago. Same story, understaffed with underpaid, overworked employees. I visited nearly every day and the constant turnover of CNA staff was not surprising, but extremely frustrating for patients and families. Higher pay, better benefits and improved working conditions would certainly improve the moral of the employees which would result in better care for our loved ones. It's easy to say, "I would never send any of my family members to a nursing home". I hope none of you have to. My mother was immobile and blind with limited resources. That 18 month period was the worst in her life, and in mine.
Years ago, a prominent Gerontologist, Ken Dychtwald, began a crusade to inform the public and governments about the coming crisis in senior healthcare. "Age Wave was his first of many books about the looming crisis. Besides the books, he has made 1000's of presentations around the world with strategies for addressing these issues that affect most advanced societies. Unfortunately, While he has received much praise for his work, little has been done to actuate his recommendations, So Dychtwald then began to write "self-help" books as he realized that he could not compete with the politics and profits driving many healthcare systems like ours. Aging in place has become the new mantra for growing old. But this strategy requires both personal financial resources combined with advanced technologies. And when this approach is no longer sufficient or unavailable to most families, you are faced with the daunting prospects of entering our current senior healthcare systems. Hudson Headwaters, our regions most prolific PCP, has been trying to address this issue but it is far from adequate at this point. Its a scary prospect for aging people and their families, especially for older folks without a strong family network. Private/Public for profit companies now own 50-60% of long term care facilities as well as a la portion of our acute care system. This is not the case for countries like Canada, all of Scandinavia, the UK, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal and some of central Americas. National healthcare is not perfect but it is functional, non-discriminatory solution that provides integrated, life long care for everyone. Its too late for those of us who are in the later stages of life but it may be the only way to stop the pending disaster that is on the immediate horizon.
To me there are things worse than death. Being in a nursing home is worse than death. Near the end of my father's life, cancer had overtaken his body, with all the treatment and pain he went through, to him, the worst was the loss of his dignity.
Kurt Vonnegut had a story about how Howard Johnsons had been converted into euthanasia parlors. I can see myself wanting to pull the plug when the time comes. That may not be politically correct, but whatever.
Vermont has assisted suicide but NY doesn’t. I watched my mother die slowly and there is nothing quiet or natural about the body fighting to survive. I’m with you Kevin.
Unfortunately, Stefanik continues to show her ignorance and blatant ability to lie! She won't be around forever, and history will show her to be the carpetbagger she is, and not treat her kindly. Her "posts" are laughable!!! Thanks for keepng us posted.
The nursing home industry is in the same boat as every other "industry". Hospitals, home rentals, etc all have their very own corporate entities competing with each other to make a profit! Look at the hospitals/medical centers - many that have shut down BECAUSE they were "bought out" in order to cut back on necessities & make money by corporations/hedge fund owners etc., and if there is no profit - shut it down.
(sorry for all the etcs)
I've seen and heard the Chair of the FTC (Lina Khan) trying to correct this monopolization of various industries. Now there's an effort (by some Democrats no less) to push Harris to get rid of her. Seems shes making progress in her work!!
Yes, nursing homes have been hit by this for many years - apparently was only "noticed" during and after the Covid pandemic.
I have been visiting a dear friend who is at Warren Center on Gurney Lane in Queensbury. She is 100 years old and her mind is still quite sharp, her body, not so much. She had hopes of leaving that place to be transferred to Fort Hudson and had been told she was at the top of their list. That was months ago, and recently she told me she is beginning to be reconciled with her fate. Being in a nursing home that is understaffed is demoralizing and dehumanizing. I believe the same thing could be said for mental and health care our veterans, young and old! No one deserves that in "the richest and most advanced country in the world". And, you're right Ken, many of us are headed toward this fate if nothing changes. Thank you for bring this terrible reality to the fore. Hypocrisy and greed reigns supreme!
My wife spent almost 10 years in a NH before she passed away. I advise any with a loved one in a NH to visit frequently and to report infractions to the State Department of Health. Ironically, much of the costs of nhs is borne by us, the taxpayers, through Medicaid.
Good advice. I made sure to show every night for dinner. They knew I would be there so I think that does get your loved one more attention. I also dropped in at odd times unannounced. I think that helped too. But even then, weekends could be trying for staffs. They were always short people on weekends.
You're going to have to take care of yourself. The best thing you can do, is take care of yourself both physically and mentally. This includes both strength training and cardio activity. Both can increase longevity and quality of life
I've heard this before, but it is ironic that during routine physicals and healthcare exams, doctors and nurses never ask about a person's diet. We have a generation where junk food has become acceptable. Better diet would lead to better health outcomes.
I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes a year ago at my “wellness” visit. I didn’t even know that was a thing. Small changes and I’ve lost 20 pounds. Anyone can get used to no sugar in their coffee or on their oatmeal. It beats insulin. My BP, cholesterol and all is where it’s supposed to be. I don’t find junk food acceptable. I’m curious about what happens next and I want to be around to find out.
“The Prediabetes Diet Plan” by Hillary Wright for anyone interested.
I think our current era will be named The Age Of Hypocrisy. The nursing home crisis is an extension of the health care dilemma we are in, and it is so clearly illustrated by the price of milk and gas crisis we are being told we are in by some. If and when a solution or any mitigating action is proposed, it is shot down as Socialist. Health insurance industry is a major market that does not have a real costumer , the providers and the insured alike do battler with them, and the outcome is always the same. Your doctor wastes as much time with them as she spends with you and who is better off for it? The insurance company is better off and you, (who pays them to do it), and the doctors have wasted time and energy trying to get you the care you need took part in a exercise to deny you care. Nursing homes are the final insult when it comes to taking care of the people who took care of us, and they are expensive. There is usually only one outcome from a nursing home. We can fix it so they are a place of dignity and comfort, we don't. We continue to pile dump trucks full of cash on the executives and shareholders of insurance companies while compiling about the cost to house Grandma. Read HR 676, it makes so much sense, it is doable and might actually cost less. Anyone who says we have the best health care in the world hasn't need it yet.
Tough read to start a Monday, but hard to argue with you.
We have been in a “fend for yourself” culture since tax cuts usurped social spending as a prevailing political school of thought. It will take at least a generation to reverse that.
Look up info on the lawsuit for fraud against the Centers owner.
Dubious management and allegations of fraud.
From one article from Skilled Nursing News:
"Hagler and Rosenberg are accused of prioritizing “their personal enrichment by minimizing staffing expenses while maximizing revenue from admissions and ignoring and violating many state and federal laws designed to protect nursing home residents,” according to the lawsuit as reported in the Press of Atlantic City.
The case is ongoing and a New York Supreme Court judge has stated there is evidence of “repeated and persistent fraud” by the owners."
We took care of my mom at home with private care and all of us pitching in. But we were lucky my mom could afford this.
Nursing *Centers* are horrific.
Even Fort Hudson is problematic....my dad had to be there for rehab at one point and my mother ended up wheeling him out of there. It was bad and that was years ago now.
No one seemed to care he was in dirty clothes, (they "lost" his laundry several times even though his name was in his garments), and eventually my mother went down to their laundry room and didn't emerge until she found his clothing.
My dad was a very dignified person, always wore a suit to work, and to see him sitting for hours in dirty clothing was awful.
He ended up with a massive infection that my mother kept insisting a doctor look at. No one bothered, she rolled him out and brought him to ER immediately. He was very very ill and was hospitalized.
Never again will a family member go to a nursing home.
On the bright side, Eddy Cohoes was great....don't know how it is now but was a good place for my dad back then.
Nothing like first-hand experience. My mother spent a year in the Stanton - now Glens Falls Center - about a decade ago and there were some amazing, caring care-givers, but I always wondered if she got the best on staff because I happened to be editor of the newspaper at the time and I was there almost every day at some point. You can never take anything for granted at a nursing home.
Caring for the elderly is hard work. My sister's mother-in-law slapped her caregiver in the face the other day because she was angry about something very minor. She went into the hospital the next day and asked if the caregiver missed her. In so many ways we revert back to those toddler stages. The circle of life can be a challenge when people are in adult bodies but their minds may not be at that stage. It often takes two people to change, wash, dress and assist the elderly. The people that work with the elderly need to be patient and kind but when they are overworked, understaffed and underpaid we have problems. The people who are well off financially can afford to be in well staffed nursing homes. The rest of us pray we never need to go. I wish we were more like some other cultures in this regard. The elderly are revered, appreciated for their wisdom and respected. That isn't something you see often in the United States. Often they become invisible.
My mother spend 18 months at a local nursing home more than 10 years ago. Same story, understaffed with underpaid, overworked employees. I visited nearly every day and the constant turnover of CNA staff was not surprising, but extremely frustrating for patients and families. Higher pay, better benefits and improved working conditions would certainly improve the moral of the employees which would result in better care for our loved ones. It's easy to say, "I would never send any of my family members to a nursing home". I hope none of you have to. My mother was immobile and blind with limited resources. That 18 month period was the worst in her life, and in mine.
Years ago, a prominent Gerontologist, Ken Dychtwald, began a crusade to inform the public and governments about the coming crisis in senior healthcare. "Age Wave was his first of many books about the looming crisis. Besides the books, he has made 1000's of presentations around the world with strategies for addressing these issues that affect most advanced societies. Unfortunately, While he has received much praise for his work, little has been done to actuate his recommendations, So Dychtwald then began to write "self-help" books as he realized that he could not compete with the politics and profits driving many healthcare systems like ours. Aging in place has become the new mantra for growing old. But this strategy requires both personal financial resources combined with advanced technologies. And when this approach is no longer sufficient or unavailable to most families, you are faced with the daunting prospects of entering our current senior healthcare systems. Hudson Headwaters, our regions most prolific PCP, has been trying to address this issue but it is far from adequate at this point. Its a scary prospect for aging people and their families, especially for older folks without a strong family network. Private/Public for profit companies now own 50-60% of long term care facilities as well as a la portion of our acute care system. This is not the case for countries like Canada, all of Scandinavia, the UK, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal and some of central Americas. National healthcare is not perfect but it is functional, non-discriminatory solution that provides integrated, life long care for everyone. Its too late for those of us who are in the later stages of life but it may be the only way to stop the pending disaster that is on the immediate horizon.
To me there are things worse than death. Being in a nursing home is worse than death. Near the end of my father's life, cancer had overtaken his body, with all the treatment and pain he went through, to him, the worst was the loss of his dignity.
Kurt Vonnegut had a story about how Howard Johnsons had been converted into euthanasia parlors. I can see myself wanting to pull the plug when the time comes. That may not be politically correct, but whatever.
Vermont has assisted suicide but NY doesn’t. I watched my mother die slowly and there is nothing quiet or natural about the body fighting to survive. I’m with you Kevin.
Unfortunately, Stefanik continues to show her ignorance and blatant ability to lie! She won't be around forever, and history will show her to be the carpetbagger she is, and not treat her kindly. Her "posts" are laughable!!! Thanks for keepng us posted.
Good news about NCPR. They are the best!
Likely telling that Hudson Headwaters no longer provides medical coverage at the Centers.
The nursing home industry is in the same boat as every other "industry". Hospitals, home rentals, etc all have their very own corporate entities competing with each other to make a profit! Look at the hospitals/medical centers - many that have shut down BECAUSE they were "bought out" in order to cut back on necessities & make money by corporations/hedge fund owners etc., and if there is no profit - shut it down.
(sorry for all the etcs)
I've seen and heard the Chair of the FTC (Lina Khan) trying to correct this monopolization of various industries. Now there's an effort (by some Democrats no less) to push Harris to get rid of her. Seems shes making progress in her work!!
Yes, nursing homes have been hit by this for many years - apparently was only "noticed" during and after the Covid pandemic.
I have been visiting a dear friend who is at Warren Center on Gurney Lane in Queensbury. She is 100 years old and her mind is still quite sharp, her body, not so much. She had hopes of leaving that place to be transferred to Fort Hudson and had been told she was at the top of their list. That was months ago, and recently she told me she is beginning to be reconciled with her fate. Being in a nursing home that is understaffed is demoralizing and dehumanizing. I believe the same thing could be said for mental and health care our veterans, young and old! No one deserves that in "the richest and most advanced country in the world". And, you're right Ken, many of us are headed toward this fate if nothing changes. Thank you for bring this terrible reality to the fore. Hypocrisy and greed reigns supreme!
Jeeze, turning 68 next month. Dad passed at almost 96 this year. Very scary thoughts!
I'm 67 so I hear you.
My wife spent almost 10 years in a NH before she passed away. I advise any with a loved one in a NH to visit frequently and to report infractions to the State Department of Health. Ironically, much of the costs of nhs is borne by us, the taxpayers, through Medicaid.
Good advice. I made sure to show every night for dinner. They knew I would be there so I think that does get your loved one more attention. I also dropped in at odd times unannounced. I think that helped too. But even then, weekends could be trying for staffs. They were always short people on weekends.