Make certain that you understand what the "assisted living" is offering. The answer can be almost anything.
My wife used to work at one in Minnesota (I think in Plymouth) that was very good. She also worked at one where a call light had an average response time of close to 2 hours.
Not only are drug prices 218% higher for the same thing in the US, the procedures are brutally expensive. and you guys spend 500% what we do on administration expenses.
See https://personalimportation.org/dramatic-drug-price-differences-canada-vs-us/
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
Thank you for your input Curtis. I realize how much our antiquated health care is costing us when you talk to Canadians.
The first thing they do is shudder at the risk or cost of healthcare insurance to visit America. It's cheaper to visit Japan or China than America right next door.
So we lose out on both tourism dollars and business dollars.
Not only from Canada but most civilized countries. Cuba survives on tourism while we can't go the 70 miles from Key West to Cuba.
In reply to wspohn :
Makes sense. Minnesota still has an agreement with Canadian pharmacies to buy drugs from Canada.
Just one small example of the cost differences.....I took a "turn" at the gym one morning. I was basically passing out and I've had previous heart issues, so they called the ambulance. The ambulance station is literally right across the street and the hospital is less than a half mile away. Cost to my insurance provider $800, my share was less than $50. My mother is 93, has heart issues and collapsing blood vessels in her brain. She took a "turn" earlier this spring in British Columbia , so the staff at the home called an ambulance. The bill was $80 for a 25 or 30 mile transport to a hospital in Victoria, which Dad submitted to his insurance and was fully reimbursed. He'll see no cost for the four days Mom spent in hospital. You pay for health care in your taxes your entire working life, but you don't have to worry about going broke in your old age either. The system isn't perfect, but you won't find many Canadians clamoring for a US style system.
Another aside....neither of my siblings, nor my parents has paid any income taxes in retirement.
frenchyd said:... basic assisted living at ... People just waiting to die? Minimal staffing of minimum paid workers?
I thought about this a lot last year when New York had it's debacles with covid and nursing homes in the news.
I think the saddest reality is that these places are basically the result of how selfish many of us are. We don't want them living with us but we don't want them to die either. And we don't want to give up much of our money toward their needs.
No easy answers when it comes to end of life relationships and care. I wish you the best in everything surrounding this.
In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :
Her oldest daughter was retired and lived nearby. So for several years she "took care" of her.( with the aide of a 3 times a week nurse ) As her abilities were reduced the work load got greater and greater. Her youngest son started to come every week to clean the house and wash the clothes. My wife cooked her a meal 2 times a week. When I returned to driving the bus her son brought the meals over.
More and more she forgot to take her pills and the falls started. We tried to have a nurse stop in daily to make sure pulled were taken. That didn't work so her oldest daughter tried to do that too.
Her oldest daughters stroke was at least in part caused by the pressure of caring for her. She still hasn't recovered fully.
We were warned by experts of the demands trying to care for an elderly family member and every single thing we were warned about has come true.
Yet the cost of good care will go through her cash reserves in less than 3 months. Those are the result of a lifetime of saving.
You'll need to log in to post.
