Outsourcing nursing home patients.

psalm, RN · Dec 22, 2007

I haven't heard of this, but I can't imagine Mexico where we are warned to not drink the water, to be an alternative to the U.S. Ask an alien if it is true and if they would consider a Mexican facility for a loved one.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2007

I presently work at a nursing home. A private room costs $6,900 monthly at my workplace, and a semi-private room costs $4,600 per month. I'm sure that most middle-aged adults in America could not afford to cough up these healthcare costs by the time they become elderly, sick, frail, and unable to care for themselves any further.

Lovely_RN, MSN · Dec 22, 2007

I wouldn't want to put my parents in a foreign nursing home.

Who is going to regulate these facilities and what recourse will the families have in cases of neglect or abuse? The distance is also a factor, I can't imagine leaving one of my parents in a foreign country!

This sounds like a dumping ground for old people.

caliotter3 · Dec 22, 2007

Don't know which is worse, dumping them in a nursing home in the US, if they can even get a bed, or dumping them overseas. I guess out of sight, out of mind works in each case. Only one scenario is less taxing on the pocketbook.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2007

I can see where this could be revenue for some countries. But without a regulating agency, I'd be very concerned. Also, most of us aren't going to want our loved ones too far from us. But I can see the appeal.

Midwest4me · Dec 22, 2007

I've NOT heard of this recent trend but can see how the dramatic cost difference would be an appealing factor. Speaking from vast past work experience in that environment, I know that nursing homes ARE dumping grounds with the few exceptions of short physical therapy rehab periods. Sadly, it's usually the last home for folks. To opt for a foreign facility adds further insult to these folks.

Simplepleasures · Dec 22, 2007

WHAAATT??!! :eek: Next we will be outsourcing our kids to China for daycare.They get to come home for holidays.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2007

WHAAATT??!! Next we will be outsourcing our kids to China for daycare.They get to come home for holidays.

Here you go-

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/report_many_u_s_parents

psalm, RN · Dec 22, 2007

Here you go-
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/report_many_u_s_parents

As soon as I saw http://www.theonion.com I knew this was a spoof! The Onion is a satire, sometimes funny, most times irreverent and not to be taken seriously. You've been had, Motorcycle Mama, but thanks for the laugh. Hugs.

amyk_ncsu · Dec 22, 2007

I don't think she got the overseas nursing home bit from The Onion. The childcare outsourcing part did come from there though. Or am I missing something?

EmmaG, RN · Dec 22, 2007

She wasn't 'had'. It's a real story...

Many of the links are not working now as most were originally reported in the summer (the one I see referenced most often is an article from the Chicago Tribune) but I did manage to find one here:

http://www.gulf-times.com/mritems/streams/2007/8/5/2_165119_1_255.pdf

Just Google 'medical tourism' to see how big this sort of thing is becoming:

http://www.google.com/search?q=medical+tourism&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

http://www.google.com/search?q=medical+tourism+india&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Taken from Financial Times (2/7/03)India is promoting the "high-tech healing" of its private healthcare sector as a tourist attraction.

The government hopes to encourage a budding trade in medical tourism, selling foreigners the idea of travelling to India for low-cost but world-class medical treatment.