"Don White" wrote in message
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"Calif Bill" wrote in message
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There needs to be rational rationing. 80% of a persons medical costs are
incurred in the last couple of years of life. Our neighbors mom is 89
years old, some Alzheimer, bad heart, etc. She has probably cost the
system a million dollars in the last year. In and out of the hospital,
lots of heroic measures to keep her going. She is not going to improve.
Many years ago the then Governor of Colorado made a statement about the
old should leave the living to the young. Great stink raised about it,
but my mother, who was and still is an RN, supported the Governor 100%.
At the time she was a nurse in old folks home. Lots of those who were
eating with their fingers and completely senile. A little like Harry.
We mostly do not let our animals digress to that stage. There is a point
to just give comfort and not use everything available to keep them
alive. My mom is 93, and luckily very healthy and still functioning
brain, but she would come back and haunt me if I went to huge expense and
trouble to prolong her life 6 months or so if she fell ill. He friend
Betty who died a couple of years ago. For an extra 3 weeks of life, the
hospital bill is about $250k. Her insurance and Medicare paid bills, but
was a rather senseless expenditure.


My mom's nursing home palative care unit was after me to give direction on
what they should do if the worst happened.
They don't feel itwould be in an older patients best interests (mom is 93)
to call the paramedics in to do rescesitation/shove tubes down her throat
etc if it's clear that she is ready to pass on.
Tough thing to do, so I contacted my four sisters to get a consensus and
talked to mom about it. Wednesday i went for a two hour meeting to discuss
and sign directions.


My mom has a living will, and a directive to not do heroic measures to
resuscitate her. She is also 93, but still lives alone in her home. My
brother and I do go a couple of times a week. Attorney told us if we go
over and she is gone or almost gone, go have a cup of coffee and then call
the EMT's as they will resusitate no matter what.