- Kira Carrillo Corser © 1993
William Freeman was a professor of English and educational advisor at Fort Benning, Georgia. Despite the fact that his health insurance paid most of his bills, he stopped eating during the last weeks of his life, to hasten his death and diminish the high cost of his hospital care.
Most Americans have the illusion that Medicare will take care of their
health needs when they reach the age of 65. Nursing home care, dental and
eye care, hearing aids, and some drugs are not covered. Physician and hospital
care are only partially covered.
| - "The Health Cost Squeeze on Older Americans," Families U.S.A. |
In a Crowd of Elders
Someone in the crowd of elders
handed her
a Health Security card
She held it close to her eyes
turning it over and over
like a foreign coin
What is this, she asked,
is it real
She ran her finger over the U.S. flag,
across the raised numbers in the middle,
and signed the space
for her name
at the bottom
Relief
marked her face
like a fine tattoo
I have a right to health care
she said, her voice suddenly young
as summer lightning
Now I don't have to grow old
worrying
that when I'm sick
I'll have to beg
- Frances Payne Adler, © 1993
Kira Carrillo Corser © 1993
Helen Walker retired thirteen years ago from her job working for Medicare. Two years ago, when she developed ulcerative colititis, she had to have a colostomy. On her fixed income, she has had to make hard choices to pay for some medications that aren't covered by Medicare and additional colostomy bags beyond what she's allotted. Lately, she finds it difficult to manage on her own, even with some in-home health care. Her doctor says she's not sick enough to go to hospital.
"There need to be some changes," Helen Walker says. "If you need the (colostomy) bags, you get the bags. If you need the medications, you get the medications. If you need to go to hospital, you don't have to be dead to get there."
Kira Carrillo Corser © 1993
Edith Isabel Roper, a Jungian psychoanalyst, was 84 years old when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Her family eventually had to admit her to a nursing home. She remained there for the next six years, at $3,000 a month, until the time of her death.
