Seattle Times Newspaper

Originally published Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 10:00 PM

State gets tough on referrals for the elder care

Washington will become the first state to clamped down the unregulated, explosive growth of elder-care referral businesses that rake in profits, sometimes deceptively, by promising to help families find long-term care for the aged.

By: Michael J. Berens

Seattle Time Staff Reporter

Washington will become the first state to clamped down the unregulated, explosive growth of elder-care referral businesses that rake in profits, sometimes deceptively, by promising to help families find long-term care for the aged.

Dozens of Washington companies offer to guide families through a maze of elder-care options to an adult family home or assisted-living facility that best fits their needs-all for free.

Read more: State gets tough on referrals for elder care

By Pamela D Wilson, The Care Navigator, CSA, MS, BS/BA, CG

Few will argue that everyone should have access to insurance or that the penalties of pre-existing conditions should be eliminated. According to the Census Bureau 45 million Americans had no health insurance in 2007. There were even rumblings in the news recently that insurance companies tentatively agreed to manage costs if insurance were a requirement for all Americans.

An article in the Philadelphia Enquirer reports that spending on health care, 17% of the nation's gross domestic product in 2009 will reach 20% by 2017 and poses a serious threat to the nation's fiscal health according to the Congressional Budget office. However, according to a report just issued by Senator Max Baucus (D., Mont), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, "up to one third of this spending does not improve Americans' health outcomes."

Read more: Health Care Reform– Are We Fixing the Right Thing?

By Pamela D. Wilson, The Care Navigator, CSA, MS, BS/BA, CG

We have the privilege of living in the Unites States, touting itself as one of the most educated countries in the world.  Yet there are other countries, Afghanistan - that compares itself to the standards of the United States back in 1900.  The average life expectancy today of a person born in Afghanistan is 46.  It's one of the least developed countries in the world, 70% of its population lives in poverty.  Fifty seven percent of men and 80% of women in Afghanistan are illiterate, unable to read or write. ¹

Read more: Education: It's a Privilege

By Pamela D. Wilson, The Care Navigator, CSA, MS, BS/BA, CG

Rasmussen polls on May 31, 2010 reported that 60% of U.S. voters want the health care bill repealed.  62% believe it will increase the federal deficit, 58% believe the cost of care will increase and 51% believe the bill will result in a decline in quality of care. Where do you stand?   Do you know what you voted for or against?  Most people, including our legislators, have no idea what's in the bill.  Nancy Pelosi quipped, "We have to pass the bill so you can see what's in it".  Now that we're seeing what's in it we realize we're in trouble.

Read more: June 13, 2010 - Learn the Facts: How Will Health Care Reform Change Your Life?

Do You Know What You're Voting For?

By Pamela D. Wilson, The Care Navigator, CSA, MS, BS/BA, CG

Election Day is around the corner.  How many more nasty back-biting political ads can we watch on television or hear on the radio?  Do these ads really project the true colors of the individuals we voted or are voting into office?  If so, we're in trouble.  What happened to politicians who don't change their stories to become re-elected?  Are you a registered voter?  Did you support health care reform?  Regardless of your vote, yes or no, this amendment has no effect on federal health care reform, it's merely an effort to make the public feel better by allowing them to express their opinion.

Read more: Amendment 63 – Health Care Reform For or Against?

By Pamela D. Wilson, The Care Navigator, CSA, MS, BS/BA, CG

 About 41 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes.  About 21 percent of persons will die from cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute's SEER Cancer Statistics Review.¹ A 240 page report released by the President's Cancer Panel suggests that the environment may be killing us "the true burden of environmentally induced cancers has been grossly underestimated. ² The 240 page report is posted at www.thecaringgeneration.com click on "as heard on" and then "articles".

Read more: President's Cancer Panel Report: CT Scans Emit Radiation Levels Similar to the Atomic Bomb at Hiroshima

By Pamela D. Wilson, The Care Navigator, CSA, MS, BS/BA, CG

Would you really want to know if you could? Genetic testing is sort of like tossing the dice, winning or losing. If you had a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's Disease, heart disease or cancer how would knowing this affect your life? Would it make you worry on a daily basis, hastening your end of life by adding stress to your previously relaxed and uneventful life? Would it allow you to make a long term plan for your future and the future of your family? Is there a benefit to knowing?

Read more: Is Genetic Testing For You?

By Pamela D. Wilson, The Care Navigator, CSA, MS, BS/BA, CG

Do you approve or disapprove of healthcare reform? Wonder what programs the tax dollars you contribute support? An article recently published in the Wall Street Journal reports "for every voter who strongly favors the plan, two are strongly opposed." 1 It's no surprise that most voters believe health care reform a negative for the economy in spite of predictions of cost savings. When did a government program ever decrease cost? This program that began as health insurance reform changed quickly when the President realized insurance companies wouldn't come along without financial incentives. In the blink of an eye health insurance reform revolutionized itself into health care reform.

Read more: Confused About the Realities of Health Care Reform?

I admit I'm spoiled by having access to good health care. Being self employed, I've paid the entire premium for my own medical insurance for years. What my medical insurance doesn't approve, alternative treatment such as visits to a naturopath, I fund myself. Any mention of the naturopath makes my regular physician's blood boil so I've stopped expressing my excitement about the benefits of naturopathic care. I am fortunate and wish to remain as so. My insurance premiums have increased this year by $15 per month just to pay for Cover Colorado. I'm not complaining.

Read more: Universal Health Care – What Are You Willing to Give Up?

How do you decide which nursing home is best for your loved one? The answer can be tricky depending on what information you review. There's the Five Star Quality Ratings published for skilled nursing facilities. I was excited myself when this report was released until I looked further into how the ratings were actually calculated. The ratings are based on three categories of data: health inspections, staffing and quality measures.

The category entitled "Health Inspections" is the ONLY category that provides information derived from trained teams of surveyors. The category descriptor also mentions that there are "differences in state licensing requirements that affect quality, and in state Medicaid programs that pay for much of the care in nursing homes." Additionally, "inspections don't identify nursing homes that give outstanding care." While reading these reports, keep in mind that the quality of care in a nursing home can change significantly in a short period of time. These changes can occur when a nursing home's administrator or ownership changes or when a nursing home's finances suddenly change. I've personally experienced this myself when I've had clients in certain facilities, many of whom I would have previously recommended but would now not place my worst enemy.

Read more: 5 Star Quality Ratings for Nursing Homes Highly Questionable