Ok, but here's the thing....WHO is going to take over the county nursing home when there is really no money to be made? Why do we think that the 'private' nursing homes take 'private pay' or great insurance? Because the medicaid payments are minimal at best.

Private nursing homes accept people who actually 'need' skilled nursing care and can pay for it. And you must qualify before you are accepted. Remember, private nursing homes are a 'business' like any other business.

The county nursing home will take 'anybody', even if they need very little care. If they don't bring in enough money, they just jack our taxes up to cover the difference. The private facilities don't have that option.

It's a catch 22 here. If they closed Glendale tomorrow, where would all of the medicaid people go? The 'privates' wouldn't take them. There is no money to be made there.

The only solution is to keep Glendale open, but not take any new patients. Let it die off on it's own. Hopefully by then, there will be a better system in place. There must be a transition plan in place.

And after going to the website that shows the competence of each nursing home in our area, Glendale is hardly making the grade. They have the most negligence and violations of any! And these are union employees folks that is run by the government!!!! SAD, to say the least!

What's the matter with treating the people in their own homes and have visiting nurses administer shots, medicine, and daily needs and where necessary have home aids care for the ones who need constant care. It costs $9,000 plus a month to stay in a nursing home and you could hire pretty good care at home for less than that. The family will have to take some responsibility for care on weekends and holidays.  

Shadow, I agree with your thoughts, but I'm at that point right now, and it isn't that easy. You either have to be very rich, very poor or have family members living in the area to share in the responsibility. We don't fit into any of those catagories.

JoAnn is right, it isn't that easy.  Nothing ever is anymore.  You close it down, where will all the old people with no insurance or means go?  You keep it open and pay the price through your county taxes.  That much is simple.  

I've been taking care of my Mom and doing all the maintainance on her house, mow the lawn, keep the brush clear, and clear the walk and driveway when it snows along with do her shopping pay the bills, get her groceries, take her to her Dr's appointments for the last 14 years since my Dad died as I'm an only child. I know it's hard, time consuming, restricting the things I'd like to do etc but it has to be done and I just don't like the nursing home route.

I can relate to all you say Shadow. I too, do all the same for my mom. And I'm not complaining at all. But now my mom has such a bad memory. She does not know time: hours/days/years. She doesn't eat unless told to. She doesn't take her pills unless told to. We have her stove unplugged. She wants to go shopping at CARL COMPANY. She gets parinoid. She threatens to leave the house (on foot) if I don't go over right then and pick her up. And this list goes on and on.

Don't get me wrong, I love my mom to death! She was always my best friend and support and I plan to be the same to hernow. It is just very hard. My husband and I are not at retirement age yet so we both work because we have to.

Shadow, how is your mom's memory? If it's not that good, how do you deal with it? (if you don't mind me asking)

Well she was 92 in November and her mind does wander from time to time and that's why I had to take over paying bills and making sure she gets to her doctors appointments on time as she forgets but not as bad as your Mom. I would say she has a mild case of dementia and if she gets as bad as your Mom is I plan on moving her into my house and I'll have to just do what you're doing everything for her everyday. I'm very lucky as my wife helps me with giving her showers and going in with her to see her doctors. I did the same for her Mom when she lived with us for 5 years until she passed. It's not an easy life at times but as long as my Mom doesn't get any worse I'll let her stay in her house where she's happy.

I took an early retirement so I'd be able to care for her when she started to need us more and more and it just worked out ok for me. I think that I get a little help from above as well or I'd never be able to keep it up.

First....Glendale should be closed. It isn't preforming up to standards. The government is running it, so what more can we expect? Not to mention that it is costing the taxpayers a ton of money. However, there needs to be an overhaul of the system and previsions have to be made for these folks and for the future of us taxpayers. Remember, they are COUNTY UNION EMPLOYEES working at Glendale. We will be paying for them right through their retirement.

You are both very special people.  You are doing all you can and if it comes down to having to move your mom to a nursing home JoAnn, you have to hang your hat on the fact that you did all you can.  What is right and possible Shadow to do is not necessarily the same for you.  Before my mother died and we struggled with her I was lucky to have my father to take care of her too, so it wasn't all on me.  I know taking care of them is difficult and you don't need me to pat you on the back, nor is that what you're looking for, but  consider yourselves patted anyway.

Quoted from bumblethru

First....Glendale should be closed. It isn't preforming up to standards. The government is running it, so what more can we expect? Not to mention that it is costing the taxpayers a ton of money. However, there needs to be an overhaul of the system and previsions have to be made for these folks and for the future of us taxpayers. Remember, they are COUNTY UNION EMPLOYEES working at Glendale. We will be paying for them right through their retirement.

Hey Bum   why do you  capitalize  "COUNTY UNION EMPLOYEES"....do you have a problem with unions

Shadow, I don't know you - but here's a sincere  ^5 (high five) for what you're doing with your mom.  Not many people (guys) would do that ... kudos dude.

Quoted from B GAGE

Hey Bum   why do you  capitalize  "COUNTY UNION EMPLOYEES"....do you have a problem with unions

Yes I have a problem with SOME unions just like some others do. Especially SOME union employees that 'we the taxpayer' pays for. That shouldn't come as any surprise!

There is a GIGANTIC  population that falls between 'the cracks'........there is a CHANGE in society that means we like to pay for the care of our elderly
and young.....ie:daycare/eldercare......that is just the way it is for now......women used to be the main care takers of the low folks on the society pole
(no offence to the males here),,,,,however, the women have become career oriented now and our neighborhoods have lost their centries and our
homes have lost their warm fires burning.......

so here we are paying others to do it........just an observation....

I like my job as a nurse taking care of the elderly....I just wish someone else would take over the weekends and holidays and I could keep my
pay/bennies etc.........

anyhow, all aside.....'listen and hear' what the elderly have to say.....it's not the details but the bigger pictures.........they know.......they really do know.....

Quoted from bumblethru

Yes I have a problem with SOME unions just like some others do. Especially SOME union employees that 'we the taxpayer' pays for. That shouldn't come as any surprise!

I agree with this.  I have a problem with SOME unions also.  IF a union is in place for the protection of the workers (as was the original reason for them), then there is no problem.  When it comes to the union being just a bargaining chip for a bigger slice of the pie that is taking it out of the pocket of the person on the other side of the table, then as a taxpayer (that is, a person sitting on the other side of the table that has no say in what is being said or signed on that said table), THAT is where I have a problem.  

I also have a problem with companies that mandate that employees be part of a union.  I once worked for a grocery store and was told that when I was hired, I was automatically signed up into a union (UFCW).  I had no choice and didn't know any better at the time.  That was not a place where I was in a union for safety.  I was injured on the job one time and my employer was sure to take care of the issue.  I never heard from the union.  The only thing I ever got out of them was another chunk out of my (minimum wage) paycheck at the time.  

This same thing would go with the nursing home (assuming that the workers have no choice to be part of the union) and/or the U.S. Automotive industry.  Those are both things that, if I was to purchase their product (stay in the nursing home / buy a new car), I would be paying for.