Security Cameras in Nursing Homes - Useful or Wasteful?

To install or not to install?

This question is at the forefront of debates concerning the management of nursing homes. At present, the issue of whether or not to put security cameras in nursing homes and where these should be placed is extremely controversial and is far from resolved.

Merits of Installing Security Cameras in Nursing Homes

The most important argument in favor of security cameras is their deterrent value against abuse and substandard care. These security cameras have been given the moniker "granny cams" and are said to be a positive step in reducing the potential for elderly abuse. Experts believe that granny cameras could singlehandedly restore public confidence in nursing homes because they give family members instant access to recently stored footage. They can, thus, closely monitor the well-being of their parents or grandparents.

Security cameras retail for at least $630 and may go up as high as $1,590. On top of this, there is a $20 monthly fee for accessing the server and another $10 monthly to upload images via a data-only line.

Drawbacks of Installing Security Cameras in Nursing Homes

Not surprisingly, the strongest opposition to the use of granny cams comes from the industry itself. Nursing-home operators and staff consider video surveillance a needless invasion of privacy. They fear that security cameras would make it so much harder to retain good staff and attract new ones. Moreover, they believe that use of security cameras will compromise a patient's dignity, particularly when bathroom and bathing activities are filmed and then reviewed by security. Another argument used is the additional expense. After all, a nursing home would need not just one, but several, security cameras distributed in strategic places throughout the nursing home.

The Debate Continues

While not trifling, however, the costs of purchasing the equipment and the installation expense are comparable to the cost of updating housekeeping, food, or recreation services. This means that the purchase and installation of security cameras should be treated as necessary an overhead cost as staff salaries, for example.

Additionally, experts believe that security cameras help nursing home operators minimize their legal responsibility should an employee or a nursing home resident be found guilty of abusive behavior. By having digitally captured evidence on hand, nursing home owners can thereby reduce unnecessary and groundless litigation.

At present, a dozen state legislatures are actively considering passing the granny-cam legislation. Existing laws mandate that an operator must inform the staff ahead of time of the presence of cameras and their respective placements. Otherwise, video surveillance may be considered illegal. There are no law expressly prohibit the use of security cameras. What prevents their wide use, however, are practical barriers in the form of pricing and vehement opposition from the nursing-home industry.

So, to install or not to install security cameras?

Nursing-home operators vehemently answer "no" while experts openly advocate their mandatory use. If you are a nursing-home owner, the added institutional cost would mostly likely make you cringe. If you are one of the many in search of a nursing home for a loved one, your answer to this question should dictate your choice of nursing homes. However, do not make it your only consideration. Check the facility's history of deficiencies and citations from formal regulatory inspections.

It will be very difficult for this controversy to be resolved speedily because it is an issue that hits too close to home. It simply is not possible to put a price on safety, or negotiate dignity.

The Importance of Nursing Home Activities

Many people think a nursing home is a nasty, soul-less place where residents either lie in bed or sit endlessly in a rocking chair, waiting out their days until the inevitable happens. The reality - at least in a good nursing home - is far from that. Many people enter a nursing facility when they have lots of life in them yet, and look forward to years of fun and companionship, with daily activities to keep both their bodies and brains active.

In fact, studies have shown that regular stimulating activities help half a decline in depression among nursing home residents, staving off dementia and keeping their spirits as well as their bodies alive. Activities are vital to keeping up residents' mental and physical well-being, and even staff and visiting family and friends can take part - willingly - in the activities a good nursing home provides.

If you are looking to find a nursing home for a loved one who's still capable of loving life, it's important that you discover what types of activities are on offer - and how often they are available. In fact, nursing homes that take Medicare or Medicaid patients have to have a designated activities director to get the proper funding. But how well they carry out their job is something you will have to assess yourself...

"I think the residents I talk to who tell me there is nothing for them to do but sleep, eat and read the paper are looking for purpose to get up every morning," writes Vicki30CNA on the allnurses.com website. "They do not look forward to the next day as they all run together. And our residents that are not as able get little to no stimulation besides toileting and shower. A few fold bibs every AM and see it as their 'job', but that job takes them a half hour. Then what, they tell me. I hate to see their last years months days so empty and without purpose. "

If you want to avoid this from happening to someone you love, read on. A wide variety of activities should be on offer at every nursing home, so make sure this is the case when considering a nursing home. Some residents may enjoy going out for lunch several times a week, shopping or visiting the local art gallery or cinema. Others will prefer on-site activities that stimulate their hearts and minds.

It might be a good idea to have a chat with the nursing home activities director to see what's available. Here is just a handful of activities that a good nursing home should willingly provide...

Self-Starting Activities

Great as they require little preparation and can be planned by the residents themselves. They include:

Gardening. Depending on residents' scope of mobility and interest, gardening can be as rigorous or as gentle as they want it to be. If there is a real garden that's fantastic, if not then hanging baskets, small pots of herbs and indoor cactus or orchid collections can still keep the interest going.

Arts and crafts. Even older residents enjoy making something - especially when they feel it's going to a good cause. Knitting blankets, making baby clothes or entering art or photographic contests can keep people busy and help them make a contribution to society at the same time.

Games. You might think bingo is the most popular nursing home game - and you're right. But there's more to competitive games than just bingo. How about bridge, mah-jong, canasta or chess - the sky's the limit. One-on-one games are great for encouraging closer relationships among residents, and group games are also good for fostering a sense of community.

Musical-based activities. Don't limit the fun to sing-alongs - you may even have professional musicians among the residents, or you may discover some hidden talents.

Volunteer-led Activities

Nail care, Bible study, hair salon day - all you need is a volunteer with a skill - and the time to make a difference in someone's life.

School groups. It may sound cliched, but young people have a lot to learn from oldsters. This can take the form of Granny teaching little Albertine to knit, or visiting a school once a week and reading to the little ones. Many schools, in fact, encourage people from the outside - assuming they have been police-checked - to help kids who need a little bit extra with one-to-one reading or math exercises.

Local community groups. People who have a special talent often enjoy visiting nursing homes on a regular basis and sharing their skills. This can be giving residents massages or reflexology sessions, teaching them a special aspect about gardening, or giving a talk about growing orchids.

Scout groups. Often, scout troops visit nursing homes - gathering together to do something fun such as bake chocolate-chop cookies or build a birdhouse. The two groups can learn from each other and make use of each other's skills and talents.

Local charities. People from charities often give their time to older people, whether that means preparing outings or having a Pet Therapy day when the local vet or employees from the animal shelter bring animals to visit.

Nursing Home-Led Activities

Themed events, such as birthdays or religious celebrations. Some creative residents get together with staff to plan events such as Hawaiian nights, Chinese New Year celebrations or Halloween or Thanksgiving festivities. Friends and family can be invited to join in - perhaps even residents of neighboring nursing homes as well.

Outdoor activities such as barbecues, picnics or a stroll through a park or garden center. In some cases volunteers may be called on to help residents with mobility issues.

A bit of culture. Going to the theatre, opera, museum or cinema can take some planning, but its worth it. Again, volunteer helpers and drivers may be necessary.

Alternative therapies. Everyone can benefit - as long as they're not too invasive. Massage, yoga or Tai Chi can help residents have fun, get fit and relax.

Keeping people as happy and healthy as possible for as long as possible. both physically and mentally, should be the goal of every nursing home. Activities should be varied and interesting, suited to the different abilities, needs and interests of the residents. They should be not only fun but worthwhile, enabling residents to form new relationships, develop new skills, and keep up their fitness levels.

"We have a 'senior prom' in May, where the local single Marines escort our residents (wheelchairs and all) for dancing and food, writes CoachCathy on the allnurses.com site. "We have gowns and suits donated by the local thrift stores. Local hair parlors come and do the hair and nails. Everyone has a blast.

"And we had a Winter wonderland theme last December - we made snowmen with diaper boxes painted white - and had a snowman decorating contest. The residents had an indoor snowball fight (with cotton balls). It was so much fun!"

Assisted Living Homes - 3 Aspects to Consider

Assisted living homes are places where elderly persons live and are provided for their various needs such as food, medical care and even social support. These are places that are not completely nursing homes and not completely independent living homes-they are somewhere in between. They are meant for people who are not able to live completely alone, but still don't want their privacy to be completely encroached upon. They get their living needs met from these homes, but they aren't totally restricted in what they can do and what they cannot do.

When you are looking for a home of assisted living for someone in your family, it is very important that you look for a place where your loved one will live peacefully. You don't want the stress of having enrolled your dear family member in substandard accommodation. Hence, you need to be discerning about the kind of place you select. The following are the three important things that you should take into consideration.

The Living Facilities

Since your family member is going to be living there for a long time, probably forever, it is very important that you see what kind of living facilities there are. Check how their rooms are, how they are furnished, etc. Check what amenities they will get.

It is not just about the physical features though. You must also check what kind of social life they will get there. It is ideal if there are a lot of other people in the place and if the facility often has events planned for their residents. This is a way in which the residents can keep themselves entertained and pass some happy times.

The Care

Though people in assisted living homes don't need constant care, they do need some amount of care and attention. This can include occasional medical care as well. Check how many attendants there are in the facility. Check if there are nurses and other care professionals. Check who will be responsible for the needs of the residents in the home and meet with them. You must ask them what kind of care will actually be provided to your senior family member.

If there are special needs to be met, you must make that clear at the onset. This includes special medical needs, such as regular medicinal routines. You should be certain that such kind of care will be extended to them on a timely basis and without fail.

The Costs

When you are looking for accommodation for your loved family member, the costs take second place, but even then you should be aware of what you will have to spend. If you are looking for only basic accommodation and needs, then you should look at a monthly bill of less than $2,000. However, if there are special needs to be meant, then the costs could be higher.

You could look at some options here. Some assisted living homes provide package deals of continuing care homes. These homes keep the person in a home of assisted living in the beginning and then shift them to a nursing home when they are no longer able to manage their needs. Such deals are expensive, but when you consider the long-term nature of such deals, they become good value for money.

Caring For Aging Parents - Grief, Relief and Comfort

Whether you're still caring for an aging parent or your dependent parents have already passed away, it's important to recognize what grief looks like and how to incorporate strategies to help you through the process.

Although there are different grief models, many experts say the grieving process generally has 5 stages.

1. Denial - This is the muscle that gets a person through the initial loss. If you've been struggling with elder care solutions as you've been caring for an aging parent or have just lost dependent parents, you might find yourself saying things like, "This makes no sense!" or "This can't be my life!" During denial, it's common for caregivers to go numb. In fact, other family and friends might view the children of aging parents as being cold or detached.

2. Anger - This stage, a necessary part of the grieving process, is the surfacing of deep emotions, including feelings of desertion and abandonment. Caregivers might be angry that they couldn't do more to help the ailing parent or they could be angry at a sibling who wasn't around. As a caregiver for the elderly, you might feel anger that the last 5 years of your life were consumed with caring for aging parents. This is especially true if you had a difficult time finding the right elder care solutions. These feelings are normal, and nothing to be ashamed of.

3. Bargaining - After a loved one has passed away, those caring for an aging parent might find themselves bargaining with a higher power. Those who've just spent years struggling through elder care solutions may find themselves saying, "If I get my act together, will you bring Dad back?"

4. Depression - During this stage, those who'd been charged with elder care solutions might still feel sadness or anger, but the emotions become buried under a feeling of numbness. This stage is not a symptom of mental illness; rather it's a symptom of the realization that an elderly parent isn't getting any better or has already passed away.

5. Acceptance - Although this is the final stage of the grieving process, it is not the "everything is hunky-dory" stage. Rather it's a time to accept the new reality. Those who have been caring for an aging parent might still have sadness or anger, but the emotions might not be as raw as they were.

While these stages are well-known, caregivers might also experience another emotion: relief. Whether it's the peace of knowing Dad is no longer suffering or the relief that a certain level of freedom is coming back into your life, recognize that it is a completely natural emotion if you've been caring for an aging parent and struggled with elder care solutions over a long period.

As you and other family members move through the grieving process, there are things you can do that-while they won't take away the pain of the loss-can bring a measure of comfort and joy.

1. Create a tribute to your parent. If your family has been caring for an aging parent, make this a family project. For example, assemble Mom's yummiest recipes into a book to give to family and friends during the holidays. Ask kids in the family to create artwork to surround the recipes. Tech-savvy members can scan photos to add to the pages. Your local copy shop or online printers can produce the book at reasonable prices.

2. If family and friends span the country, create an online tribute. Family members can collaborate to create a free blog or a low-cost website, where you can upload photos, videos, and journal entries. You might be surprised at how easy it is to maintain a blog or website, but don't hesitate to ask for help if you think it's over your head.

3. Find support from others who were charged with elder care solutions. Local hospitals or hospice centers may host support groups for grieving caregivers or other family members. Support groups can be especially helpful as your pass milestones, such as Mom's birthday or the first anniversary of her passing.

4. Turn grief into action. If you were caring for aging parents who had a houseful of furry friends, volunteer at an animal shelter once a month; raise money to research the disease Dad lived with; use part of an inheritance to set up a scholarship in Mom's hometown. Not sure how to help? Brainstorm with the family to find a fun and purposeful activity you can all participate in.

For children of aging parents, the grieving process is inevitable, regardless of whether it starts when Mom moved in with you or in the days after her death. Allow yourself to move through the stages of grief as well as find activities that bring you and your family the comfort and joy you deserve.

Interplay of Administrative Capability, EQ, and OD Practices

The Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya is known for its vision to network partnership with all sectors to be able to improve the quality of life and conditions of every Novo Vizcayano and to make them globally competitive. The economic growth of the province can be traced to the governance that they have since they were very fortunate to have been assisted by USAID through the Governance and local Democracy Program. With this, the researcher was motivated and inspired to conduct this study, to look into the different organization development practices of its leaders, and to make a comprehensive analysis on the existence of correlation between their emotional quotient competencies and administrative capability.

The researchers, who are also members of the social development committee of the province and active community development organizers, believes that organizational excellence begins with the performance of people. It is what people do or do not do that ultimately determines what the organization can or cannot become. It is the members' dedication and commitment to organizational purposes that make the necessary contribution. This research endeavor is also guided by the concept advanced by Martires (1993:39) that the attainment of goals depends on the willingness of people to make the necessary contributions. The performance of people is the true benchmark of organizational performance which can be equated with the administrator's capabilities.

Employing the descriptive type of research utilizing the correlation method, this research study involved a total of 59 division chiefs and administrators, and 11 members of the Provincial Legislative Body of Nueva Vizcaya as respondents through scientific sampling procedure. In the analysis of data, appropriate statistical procedures were utilized.

Salient results show that majority of the respondents are 40-59 years old, appointed, have a salary grade of 20 and above, bachelors degree holder with masteral units, 20 years and above in government service, have attended 20 and above trainings and seminars, and are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

The overall perception of the respondents of their administrative capability registered a grand mean score of 4.26 with a qualitative description of "often". The respondents always manifest visioning skill, team building, and decision-making as administrative capability and often manifest communication management as dimension of administrative capability.

Moreover, the respondents perceived that they have an "optimal" intentionality (4.34); creativity (4.39); integrity (4.01); and constructive discontent (4.45). They also have "proficient" resilience as dimension of their emotional quotient competencies as evidenced by the grand mean of 3.65. On the other hand, the same group of respondents under study perceived that they have an excellent organization development practices along people (4.57); strategy (4.62), technology (4.75), empowerment (4.56), work ethics (4.38), goal setting (4.52), products and services (4.46), and quality of work life (4.68). They also have a very good organization development practices along structure (4.34), and change management (4.34). Their grand mean score perception of 4.52 reflects that they have "optimal" organization development practices.

Further analysis of data shows that there are no significant differences in the respondents' mean score perceptions of their administrative capability when grouped according to position (t=1.26), salary grade (F=2.98), and religious affiliation (t=1.09) because their computed mean score differences are lower than their critical value. However, when the respondents are grouped according to age, educational attainment, years of government service, and number of trainings and seminars attended, there exist significant differences on their perceived administrative capability, because the computed F-ratio of 5.27, 4.73, 6.01 and 3.90 respectively, are very much higher than the critical value of 0.05 level of confidence.

It is also noted that there are no significant differences in the respondents' mean score perceptions of their emotional quotient competencies when grouped according to position (t=1.53), salary grade (F=3.07), number of trainings and seminars attended (F=2.89) and religious affiliation (t=1.62) because their computed mean score differences are lower compared to their critical value at 0.05 level of confidence. However, there exists a significant difference in the perceived emotional quotient competencies of the respondents when they are grouped according to age, educational attainment, and years in government service as evidenced by the computed F-ratio of 4.28, 5.72, and 3.35 which are very much higher compared to their critical value at 0.05 level of confidence.

There is a very high positive correlation between the perceived administrative capability and emotional quotient competencies of the respondents as shown in the computed correlation coefficient of 0.864 with 74.6 percent as coefficient of determination. A very high positive correlation between the perceived administrative capability and organization development practices of the respondents was also observed as shown in the computed correlation coefficient of 0.762 which is significant at 0.05 level of confidence with 58.06 as coefficient of determination. Finally, there is a very high positive correlation between the perceived emotional quotient competencies and organization development practices of the respondents as reflected by the computed correlation coefficient of 0.891 which is significant at 0.05 level of confidence with 79.38 as coefficient of determination.

The Local Government Unit of the province of Nueva Vizcaya should strive to conduct several and continuous organization development programs like conferences, symposia, seminars, and in-service trainings to tackle issues on emotional intelligence, administrative capability, and organization development. An intervention or development program on the sustainability of administrative capability and emotional quotient competencies was proposed to the local government officials of Nueva Vizcaya and it was integrated as a regular activity of the Provincial Human Resource Management Office. Strengths and weaknesses identified from the dimensions of the main variables considered in this research investigation also served as basis for developing criteria for the selection of candidates to main key positions in managing the affairs of local government unit. Further studies on emotional intelligence, administrative capability, and organization development maybe conducted in other local government units in the country and among ASEAN nations using the same instrument, purposely to cross validate and enhance the veracity of the data gathered through the research instruments used in this study.

Carlo Fonbuena Vadil, DPA

Affordable Housing for Seniors in South Orange County, California

In South Orange County, California finding affordable rentals for anyone, let alone a senior citizen who has very little savings, sounds like a true oxymoron. However with some research, time and a great deal of persistence something that resembles, or at least comes close to being budget conscious can be attained.

Due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, my mother-in-law found herself in need of a new place to live after over 30 years in her rent-controlled apartment. She had been in a run down building in Hollywood. Her landlord had passed away and the relatives were selling the building. Thanks to my husband's research he found that there were several options, none of which would be at the same $460.00 a month, but closer to us and in a much better area than what she had been living in.

Living in South Orange County, we were able to check out the different areas personally. Since my mother-in-law doesn't drive and is 78, we had to make a list of definite needs to make the transition for both her and us as smooth as possible.

We decided we had to have it close by, but not too close-we wanted to keep our privacy and make sure she would not rely on us to take her places. The complex had to either have a bus stop within walking distance or a shuttle service. The most important was that she had to be able to afford the apartment on her own, since neither we nor my sister-in-law could afford to supplement her social security. If possible, since she wouldn't know anyone, we were hoping that there would be a social calendar for her to get involved with or a senior center close by.

Thanks to our local Social Security Office, they pointed us to the internet. We googled "affordable rentals for senior citizens". We narrowed the search down to our particular part of Orange County. We were able to locate several complexes and check them out. All but a "high end" offering had a lengthily wait list. Thankfully they all gave us an average of 6-12 months, which we managed to work out with the family who now owned her building. They were also going to give her a re-location settlement, which would provide her with funds to afford a mover and offset the cost of the rent increase.

All the places had brochures, applications and floor plans available for us to take back and discus with her. She decided on two. Then it was a waiting game. My husband would call the apartment managers every 2-3 weeks to check on where his mother was on "the list". Finally one came up. This particular complex had one coming up in a couple of weeks. My mother-in-law was actually still a few names off, but since the manager knew she had to be out of her present apartment by the end of the same month and my husband had been so good about checking in, she let the space go to her.

The apartment has a shuttle service several times a week to the local markets, to several medical offices (which included her Kaiser-Permanente clinic), an exercise room, a craft room, internet access (as well as classes!), weekly get-togethers and a host of supervised activities. They also have laundry rooms on each floor, central air-conditioners, private patios and dishwashers. All things her current place never even considered having!

Here are a listing of some of the alternative senior housing areas we found:

Freedom Village in Lake Forest: This is a religious-based complex, but it is open to everyone. Should it be necessary, assisted living and nursing centers are available on site.

Heritage Park and Square in Ladera Ranch: These were the most expensive and the nicest. No transportation, but otherwise had many social amenities available.

Buena Vida at Town Center in Rancho Santa Margarita: Senior apartments. Amenities were available, but not plentiful.

Fountain Glen in Laguna Niguel: Senior apartments. Due to long wait list of over a year, we didn't consider the area.

Hacienda del las Palmas in Laguna Hills: Closest to us, too close. However it had not only senior apartment, but if necessary, assisted living, residential car and Alzheimer's Care-the only one that did.

Renaissance at the Regency and it's sister, the Wellington in Laguna Woods and Aliso Viejo: Both are independent retirements centers which have both kitchens or without and use of a dining facility. These also had assisted living as well as residential care. Pricey and very "hotelish".

There are many others available, but all, again, have long waiting lists. The best suggestions:

Decide what the most important amenities are, what is the highest amount that the renter can afford to pay and then contact the local social security office for the best direction in which to start the hunt.

Who Pays for Nursing Home Care---A Tale of Three Friends

John, Doug and Ben were all neighbors in a typical blue-collar working-class neighborhood in Philadelphia, PA. They had all grown up together, best friends since childhood.

John had always been taught to be careful with his money, saving for the proverbial rainy day. If he didn't have enough money to pay cash for something, he did without. His vacations, if any, consisted of visiting friends in other states, sleeping in their guest bedrooms. He married early, and he and his wife, Ethel, both shared his frugal philosophy. Sharing a single teabag was typical of how they saved money. As the years went by, they managed to accumulate a significant but by no means huge financial cushion. Their house was eventually paid off, and by delaying his first receipt of Social Security until he was 70, John was able to continue his working years and increase his monthly checks from Social Security.

Doug, on the other hand, lived it up at every opportunity, figuring that you never know when your number might be called, so why bother to save? His vacations included gambling junkets in 'Vegas, fancy resorts in Hawaii, and extended ski trips to Vail. His wife, Madge, also shared his philosophy, and was never chastised for running up the credit card bill with numerous purchases of clothing and jewelry she just "had" to have. To pay for all their trips and purchases, Doug and Madge refinanced their home several times, always trying to get more cash out of their deals each time. By taking early retirement, Doug gave up the chance to sock away a little more in his bank account, but by this time in his life he had finally started to slow down, and such fast living had taken its toll on him.

Ben was luckier than his friends John and Doug, having inherited a sizable fortune at age 28. He worked for a local publishing house, but never had to worry too much about where his next dollar was coming from. Ben was always a big eater, often polishing off a huge steak late at night, a second dinner, really. Unfortunately, Ben's health began to deteriorate in his early 60s, and he had to have a quintuple bypass at age 68. Lucky for him, the $100,000 cost was completely covered by Medicare, so he never even had to touch his family wealth.

Doug's physical health was fine, but he began to be more and more forgetful as time went by. Eventually, he was diagnosed as having Alzheimer's disease and he took up residence in a nearby nursing home that specialized in Alzheimer's patients. The $220 a day cost was completely covered by Medicaid, the federal program that pays for the long-term care of the indigent. Eventually, Madge had to sell the house to move into assisted living, and what little equity she had built up in it went to pay off the credit card debt.

What about John? Because of his prudence and frugality, he had managed to accumulate over $300,000, not bad for a guy from the inner city. In addition, after 30 years, he had finally paid off his house, so he and Ethel owned it free and clear. They hoped and expected one day to pass it on to their three fine children, as a legacy.

Unfortunately, John suffered a fall at age 70, and his health went downhill from that point forward. He had to move out of his house into a nearby nursing home, where Ethel could visit him frequently. The monthly cost of the nursing home exceeded $7,500 per month. Because of John's accumulated assets, he could not qualify for Medicaid, and had to pay privately. His wife could barely get by on the money left at the end of the month after all the expenses were paid. Her constant worrying about finances and John's condition took a toll on her, and she died with John still in the nursing home.

After about four years of nursing home bills, John's lifetime of savings had been completely depleted, and he finally qualified for Medicaid. The title of the home had passed to John upon Ethel's death by operation of law, since they had owned it jointly. The home was an exempt asset and did not have to be sold to pay for John's care. However, following his death three years later, estate recovery---the federally mandated program to recoup Medicaid expenses after a person dies---forced a sale of his home to pay back the state, and his children got nothing.

Ben, the wealthy friend, managed to continue living for many years after his heart bypass. Lucky for him that the government never considered his wealth when it paid for his operation!

Doug managed to fritter away any money he ever had, and the government willingly paid for his nursing home care. After all, he was broke---what else can be done?

Finally, John, too, died penniless, leaving his children nothing, after a lifetime of conservative and frugal living. Why had he bothered? He and his friend Doug wound up in the same situation, in the end!

An elder law attorney could have helped John preserve his lifetime of savings and protected his house, too. Unfortunately, this was one area where John's caution and frugality worked against him---he hated paying lawyers what he viewed as outrageously excessive fees---and his children wound up with nothing.