Do you expect you will ever need long term care services? And knowing
that Medicare does not cover long term care, are you prepared to pay for it,
i.e. long term care insurance or personal assets?
The reality is 70% of Americans over 65 will need some kind of long
term care for an average of three years. But the ability to provide long term
care for everyone who will need it in the future is in doubt because of several
conflicting national dynamics.
Ever since Medicare and the Older Americans Act were passed in
1965, there has been a national effort to care for and protect vulnerable seniors
so they can live with dignity and independence. But an escalating number of adults
over 65 will not be prepared financially to afford the high costs of long term
care and will eventually spend down their limited assets qualifying for
Medicaid assistance. While at the same time, there is currently a significant national
movement to reduce the size and cost of government including Medicaid.
Long term care is expensive. The average annual cost for a semi
private room in a nursing home is $73,000. (In 2009, Medicaid paid for 40
percent of all nursing home spending in the US.) And a Licensed Home Health Aide costs
$43,472. Already the elderly account for 25 percent of annual Medicaid spending
while being only 10 percent of Medicaid enrollees
You can learn more about this complex and critical national issue
at the Center’s 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on May 8th. We will
watch and discuss a March 20, 2013
panel discussion, convened by The SCAN Foundation, “on practical options from
various perspectives for increasing access to affordable long-term care
services for the millions of Americans needing this support”.
The SCAN Foundation’s is an independent, non-profit public charity
devoted to transforming health care for seniors in ways that encourage
independence and preserve dignity. You can learn more about the
challenges of providing long term care at their website http://thescanfoundation.org/ .
The Wasco County Pioneers’ Annual Meeting
has been held on the first Saturday in May since 1921 - which this year is Saturday
May 4th at Calvary Baptist Church. And if you haven’t heard, after
lunch Bill Johnson will speak about “Our Oregon Trail” with pictures of
segments of the trail most people will never have a chance to see since they
are located on private land. It should be a fascinating presentation.
Hopefully
you will be attending the Friday Night Out Library Benefit and Auction at the
Center on Friday May 3rd to support the children’s library expansion.
And besides the live music, pizza and drinks, you will have a once-in-a-lifetime
chance to bid on a variety of auction items including (now listen carefully OSU fans!) a Vintage
Benny the Beaver hat from Oregon State University circa 1947 and an Oregon
State Rookie lid (a freshman beanie with a green top and an orange bill). There
is also a paperback copy of “Sometimes a Great Notion” autographed by the late Merry
Prankster himself - Ken Kesey, and a hardbound copy with dust jacket of Arthur
C. Clarke’s “Childhood End” autographed by the author at Willamette University
in 1968. Tickets are $20, doors open at 5:30 and it is a 21 and over event - so
sorry no grandchildren this time.
And before the hair line recedes and
what’s left turns grey, playing tonight at the Center is “For the Good Times”. Then
starting at the top of the batting order for a new month, on May 7th
“The Strawberry Mountain Band” will play for your dancing and listening
enjoyment. Music starts at 7:00, everyone is welcome and donations are
appreciated.
The terrible tasting oil many
mothers used was Castor Oil, but other responses I received which may also
bring back memories were Cod Liver Oil and Fletcher’s Castoria. (And the randomly selected winner is - drum roll please – Talie
Kingsbury.)
But back to pop culture during the 1950’s – and thanks to
Annie Lane for suggesting this week’s Remember When” question. What was the
name of the talking mule, star of seven popular movies in the 50’s, who befriends
a hapless young soldier named Peter Stirling? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a picture of
the Army’s 123rd Mule Detachment.
Well, it has been another week enjoying the
ride while keeping an eye out for the potholes. Until we meet again, do you ever have one of those days,
when listening to folks debate whether the glass is half full or half empty, you’ll
just glad there’s still water in it?
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