What a farce our president is. Because $1 billion sounds huge, he thinks everyone, including our legislators, will feel our long-term-care problem has been solved (“Clinton plan would help nursing homes,” news story, Sept. 17). Not so!
When Clinton’s $1 billion over five years is scrutinized, it pales as to what is really needed. There are more than 16,000 nursing homes in this country and thousands more of our elderly are cared for by home-care providers. Clinton’s $1 billion over five years would pay for 7,300 workers per year. Divide that by the 16,000 nursing homes, and each home would get less than one-half of an added worker. That’s just at the lower wage scale of nurse aides. What about registered nurses, LPNs or therapists? The half-worker allotment does not allow for additional home care either.
When this country is facing a national shortage estimated at 150,000 RNs alone, much less other health care workers, Clinton does nothing but play to the media to look good. He isn’t doing a thing to solve the current staffing crisis, much less the future needs of the elderly of this country.
Get a grip, Mr. President. Better yet, try to do something that will help provide the care and dignity that our elders deserve.
Health care executive
Everett
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