Re: Rationing Health Care for Seniors Originally Posted by achot chavi 
A bit harsh, dont you think, I too have been a nurse for over 20 years, most of them in geriatrics (both hosp based and SNF/ALF) and have seen the hospitals discharging pts to die in the nsg home. The regular pt 88+ you are referring to obviously are treatable and not on their death bed as was Mrs. Shriver.
But lets face facts, Mrs. Shriver was obviously high profile and private pay and received treatment not as easily accessible to the average geriatric pt. If you are first learning that lesson today- well, then you were really born yesterday!!
Uhh No.
In FL (as well as other states...but FL is a prime offender) there are plenty of obviously NOT "TREATABLE" elderly that are put on vents and treated to the Nth degree, that do not have connections or private insurance, but do have family members that want everything done or MDs that do not "believe" in DNR orders.
Nothing like a completely confused dementia, contracted in fetal position metastatic pancreatic cancer pt, whose family requests the whipple and chemo, because they want everything done.
I would also say that it is the less connected pts on medicare that get more extreme measures and are actually more often stuck in the hospital longer. Often SNFs do not wish to take them, if their care will be expensive or difficult. The private pay pts tend to have more access to information, and data, with which to make more informed decisions and have MDs that respect their final care decisions and the lawyers to enforce their living wills.
Please note that Ted Kennedy chose to spend final days more at home, and live how he wished in his final days, rather than have a protracted fight to the Nth degree. I believe that he had all the connections of which you speak.
While I agree with the assessment that the poster that you cited was a bit harsh, the comment that they were "born yesterday" was equally harsh. To respond rudely, when complaining that someone was rude....well, "Pot, meet Kettle".
) died earlier today. She was a great lady, and a great advocate for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled.
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