Hunger, poverty, homelessness, and the uninsured in the United States

            We have heard the stories of countries devastated by hunger, poverty, homelessness, lack of health care, poor education, and abuse and neglect of the elderly.  Now imagine that one of these country's is the United States of America.

            Seriously.  The United States of America is portrayed as a wealthy nation, which is true for a small population.  People we refer to as the VERY wealthy.  The United States has about 27% percent of the world net worth, with 87% of that wealth owed by only 25% of the United States population.  That means that 75% of the households in the united States are not considered wealthy. 

            Hunger is real in the United States as there are 17.2 million households who experienced hunger.  Most of these are children and the elderly. People often joke that United States Seniors eat dog food.  Guess what, it is no joke.  For many elderly it is as close to eating meat as they can afford.  Over 14% of the elderly, 65+, live in poverty and several million more live just above the poverty line.  That fine line is often less than a $100 difference.

            Approximately 43.6 million Americans lived in absolute poverty which is 15.1%  of the population.  It is estimated that over 50% of Americans will experience absolute poverty in their lifetime.  Of this total, 15.4 million Americans live in extreme poverty.  This means their family’s cash income is less than half of the poverty line, or less than the federal poverty level of  $22,050 for a family of four based on 2010.  36% of children in poor families do not have an employed parent.

            Over 30 million households either paid more for rent and utilities than the federal government says is affordable, which is greater than 50% of there  income.  Many households are forced to live in overcrowded or substandard housing, which means there is no hot water, no electricity, no toilet, or neither a bathtub nor a shower.

            Homelessness is of great concern in the Unites States as well.  Over 20.5 million were homeless in the United States in 2010. Of these homeless,  23% are United States Veterans and 40% of the homeless Veterans are men.  These men and women risked their live to defend our country and the thanks they get to end up homeless?  That is a pure outrage!!

            Homeless people are subject to violent lives, due to rape, beatings often resulting in death due the severity or the lack of health care, hunger and death from the cold.  Lack of nutrition, health care, violence, and weather conditions account for most the deaths of the homeless.

            All our lives, we paid for social security and Medicare insurance, which was deducted from our income.  When we reach the years to collect this social security insurance income, we have to pay income tax on an item that we were taxed on our entire income earning lives. Also, once on Social Security, if you want Medicare Health insurance, you must pay for it from your Social Security income.  There are no Golden Years for many seniors in the United States.

            Over 50 million people in the United States do not have health insurance. Even more than this number, do not have dental insurance.

            According to the United Nation Conference in February, 2009, South Korea had the most effective education system in the world's richest countries, with Japan in second place and the United States and Germany near the bottom.   Statistics have established a relationship of education performance to nutrition, health and home environment.  Children of poverty, undernourished, uninsured, and poor housing are contributing factors to poor education in the United States. 

            Knowing all these things does not change the devastation that is encompassing the households of the United States.  It is pathetic that a country portrayed as such a wealthy nation is in reality, not so wealthy.  The majority of the people who live here suffer the lack of basic needs.  Basic needs! 

            What happened to the days when people stood up for their rights?  The days of Women's Liberation, Equal Rights Movement and Anti-war movements.  Did we care more about our country way back when or are we just so beaten down that we can't get up again?

            I wish I had the answers to this dilemma and that we could fix our country. I understand that many countries throughout the world have higher poverty rates and poor health care than we do in the United States, but it comes down to misrepresentation of a reputation.   Yes, we are one of the wealthiest nations in the world.  Yes, we are the land of the free and the home of the brave, but we are also the land of the hungry and the home of the poverty stricken and poor.  I don't think that is what Francis Scott Key had in mind when he wrote our National Anthem, do you?

Life Can Be Stranger Than Fiction

         This past week has been the most bizarre and emotional week I have ever lived.  On Sunday the 11th of September, my dad passed away.  The week that followed was most unusual.  I had to change my emotions from planning the funeral of my father to helping with the wedding of my son.

            I was making funeral arrangements while working on decorations for the wedding.  The morning of my son's wedding, I had to pick up my father's ashes.  I then went home and got ready for my son's wedding.  The wedding was beautiful and I did miss my father's presence, as did my mom, who began to cry during the wedding vows.

            While all this was going on, my brother-in-law was in the hospital with respiratory problems.  He did manage to get out in time for the wedding.  I really could have used my sister's support during this week, but she was at the hospital with her husband.  Very difficult for her as well, since she had just spent 2 weeks at the hospital with my father. 

            The circle of life does continue, as it should. We miss the ones who are gone while we have high hopes for those who remain.

            I take great joy in my time of sorrow knowing that my son and his new wife are starting a life together with grandchildren planned.  It will be a new adventure for me and I will remember how wonderful a grandparent my father was and strive to be great grandparent as well.

Cancer In The Family Déjà vu - Part Three - My Dad

        June 6, 1930 to September 11, 2011      

   Sometimes life has a way of making decisions for you.  In early August my dad's oncologist told him that he was responding very well to the chemotherapy.  Then his oncologist talked my dad into having full brain radiation.  My dad had no brain tumors, but his doctor told him it was to prevent them.  I did not agree with the therapy, but I was my dad's decision. 

            After the second week of full brain radiation, my dad became weak, tired and dehydrated.  My sister took him to the hospital where he was re-hydrated with IV therapy.  After five days he went home, just to return to the hospital with dehydration again.  All the time my dad was becoming much weaker.

            Our family made the decision to take my dad to my oncologist near my home.  After transferring my dad to the local hospital, he did well the first few days, but developed an infection and once again dehydrated.

            He never got to see my oncologists as he passed away Sunday, September 11, 2011.  If your doctor suggests such a radical and seeming unnecessary treatment, get a  second opinion.  When my dad was diagnosed in April 2011, we were told possible nine to twelve months.  We got less than six months.

            I feel badly that I took him so far from his home.  I believed he would at least have gotten to go home again.  As I said, life has a way of making decisions for you.

September 11, 2011

Heaven got a new angel today
Even though it makes me sad
Heaven is rejoicing
Because they got a new angel today
That new angel is my dad.
Love you always Dad!!!

 

Widow Learning To Live Alone - Living Alone - Part Two

            Loneliness can become overwhelming once you become a widow or widower who live alone.  I miss my husband every day, even though it has been five years now.  The house seems too big and empty and quiet.

            In my first part of Living Alone,  I briefly touched on the subject of adjusting to nighttime fears and loneliness.  The first year of being alone I was in fear of an intruder into my home.  When my husband was alive, I never thought about it.  I never had any fear about it.  I wasn't alone.

            There are sounds in the house that are familiar.  The furnace kicking in, the water pump, the refrigerator and the normal creaks the house makes as the wind blows or the house settles.  I find these sounds comforting because they are familiar.  This is the main reason I do not have the TV or radio on at night.  I want to feel comfort from the familiar sounds. 

            The other reason I do not have a TV or radio on is that I want to hear the sounds in my house, an out of ordinary sound would be covered by these sounds.  If someone is breaking into my house I want to know it.

            Most of the first year I changed my sleep scheduled and spent most of the night watching TV.  I do not work and on disability so I was able to do this.  I felt less threatened by an intruder during daytime hours of which I slept.  I did change that pattern and now sleep at night and have day hours for activities.

            I do not use a light at night, except a very low wattage in the bathroom.  My theory is that I don't want an intruder to be able to see to get around my house.  I have a flashlight at the head of my bed so if I hear a noise, I will have light to see.  As I mentioned, I keep a can of hornet/wasp spray by my bed.  I own a gun, but I cannot see myself shooting anyone so it would be useless for me to have one for that purpose.

            I also have a phone so I can quickly call emergency if I feel threatened.  I also place those small contact alarms on my doors.  They make a horrible noise if the contact is broken when a door is opened.  I also keep my car keys handy.  I have a panic button on the keys which sounds an alarm on my car.  I tested it and it does go off when I push the button from my bedroom.

            Another way to feel more secure is to invest in a home alarm system.  These can include fire, intruder and emergency medical help.  I carry my cell phone with me at all times so if I do fall down I can call someone to come and help or to call emergency services.

            Learning to live alone is very emotional and life changing, but so is the loss of a spouse.  The first year living alone is the hardest.  There are so many others changes and adjustments we have to make when we lose our most precious loved one, but time does heal, slowly, but it does heal.

Cancer In The Family Déjà vu - Part Two - My Dad and Hospice Care

            Yes, caring for my father is difficult.  My late husband died from lung cancer five years ago. While I was still in recovery from my cancer, my son and I cared for him at home until he died.  The memories of his care are flooding back to me as I prepare to care for my father, who too, has lung cancer.  I know the challenges ahead and I am full of fear as to whether I can provide the intimate and exhausting care he will need.  .

            My older sister told us three younger sisters to institutionalize both parents.  It would be easier on us.  True, but end of life is so permanent.  Once my dad dies, like my husband, he is gone forever.

            I know not everyone is able to deal with home health care and home hospice care, but I know that I would want this for me, as did my husband.  I want the same end care for my father.  The past few months have been overwhelming especially since my parents won't relocate for my dad's care.  I know there are many sacrifices, and yes, it is temporary. 

            When the idea of providing home health care and then Hospice care was discussed a while back, I was in favor of it.  Now, I am reluctant as I did not realize the memories of caring for my late husband would haunt me. Taking care of my dad at their home, over 100 miles from everyone who could care for them, has proven to be a big hardship on us.

            The discussion was to provide the care at my house.  I am leery of this as I feel the bulk of the burden will fall on me.  I am not prepared to do this.  Going through home hospice care a second time for another person I love very much seems to great of a burden to bare.  I am undecided at this time.  Agreeing to provide hospice care is a great responsibility and it will give you memories you may not want, for the rest of your life.

            As I look back at the time with my late husband, I do not know where my strength came from.  As I look forward to the care for my father, I do not know if I can once again find that kind of strength.  As my dad's time for hospice care grows near, I will update you on what we decide.  .