Comments On: RIP Elswinger (Updated) by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/04/10/rip-elswinger Comments On: RIP Elswinger (Updated) by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee en-us Copyright 2009 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:01 -0800 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:15:00 -0800 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Posted by elin]]> Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:22:29 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]>
What a surprise. RIP, man. You made Slog a better place every time you had something to say. May we all be half as insightful and constructive in our future comments as you were.
Posted by Gomez]]> Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:12:53 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Posted by Lou Zemuda]]> Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:40:10 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Posted by kim in portland]]> Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:00:19 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Posted by beaver]]> Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:27:49 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Posted by dale]]> Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:21:26 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Posted by Papayas]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:50:44 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> for-profit system where "customers" like Elswinger receive Walmart quality care at Neiman Marcus prices.

Also, perhaps if you don't have cash to donate you can donate something else....like organs. Sign up here to "donate life"...and don't forget to inform your family and friends of your decision too.

p.s. I'm sorry to miss the memorial but I'm not in Washington at the moment.
Posted by Y.F.]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:54:47 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]>
And the dude we thought might be there for an elswinger memorial, but who, it turns out, was just there for someone's birthday party.
Posted by COMTE]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:58:35 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Posted by Tina]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:29:47 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Posted by Sam M.]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:23:20 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Posted by otter]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:05:24 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Posted by -p]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:57:59 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Posted by Dougsf]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:53:00 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]>
I would like to comment on the healthcare issues being raised. I think what is truly alarming and sad is that of all scenarios, Larry worked for UW which provides the very finest healthcare benefits available as well as a long standing history of loyally employing the unemployable.

Seriously.... If you've ever talked to any of the Classified/Professional staff and heard stories of how difficult it is to remove a problem employee ( I am not saying he was a problem ), hearing that they actually let someone go is pretty astonishing. hearing that they bailed on an obviously very sick co-worker is incredibly surprising.

If he fell through the cracks and ended up in the situation he was in, imagine how quickly one could rapidly demise if they were not under the State Of Washington's protective blanket?

For those of us not fortunate enough to hold a State Job, this should be more than a cautionary tale.
Posted by PaulinBallard]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:38:08 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Posted by melissaf.]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:25:43 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Posted by ellarosa]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:18:59 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Posted by ray]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2009 08:29:42 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Posted by dale]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:20:02 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]>
wonder if he was a smoker?

sorry, if I was a smoker, due to heart problems, i would be dead

the tribute paid to this fellow is heartening

I don't believe in all this going to heaven stuff, but, I am sure if we knew all the facts of his life it was not in vain

peace
Posted by Rainy Day]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:03:33 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> seriously.. in the name of elswinger..can i just say gnossos. elenchos ,fnarf, original monique, will in seattle, kim in portalnd . rob in baltimore, matt from denver julie in eugene,it's mark mitchell, big sven, kenemishi, jubilation t cornball, michael strangeways, violet_dagrinder, matt fuckin hickey, catalina vel duray, soupytwist, the good captains and contributors of slog....a whole bunch of y'all i can't remember, whom i've never met, or don't know thanks for making sense, for bringing light and a strong sense of common decency ..and braving a whole lot of irrelevant meaness..thanks for making elswinger's life bearable and better, and making my life better..
thanks.. and like we useta say, back in the day keep on keepin on..
seriously..
thanks
Posted by reverend dr dj riz]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:13:38 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]>
And lastly, the UK requirements don't require full destitution, or did you miss that part about a patient being able to hold onto ~$20,000 of their own money?

The Netherlands has a dual-level system. All primary and curative care (i.e. the family doctor service and hospitals and clinics) is financed from private compulsory insurance. Long term care for the elderly, the dying, the long term mentally ill etc. is covered by social insurance funded from taxation.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_h…

In Norway:
Some nursing homes belong to and are managed by voluntary organizations.
However, they are staffed by professionals and are funded by the municipalities.


You're welcome.
Posted by keshmeshi]]> Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:50:28 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Even if we had universal health care, it would not cover nursing home care Prove it.

Nursing home care is not included with universal health care in Germany, France, England, or Canada. it's time for keshmeshi to find a country where nursing home care is included with universal health care.

Pflegeversicherung (Deutschland)
aus Wikipedia, der freien Enzyklopädie
Wechseln zu: Navigation, Suche

Die Pflegeversicherung (PV) ist in Deutschland eine Pflichtversicherung im Rahmen des deutschen Sozialversicherungssystems. Sie hat die Aufgabe, Pflegebedürftigen Hilfen zu leisten. Diese werden im Einzelfall je nach dem Grad der Pflegebedürftigkeit gewährt durch Kostenbeteiligung an Pflegehilfsmitteln sowie entweder an Pflegedienstleistungen für stationäre Pflegeheime oder für die häusliche Pflege an ambulante Pflegedienste und/oder Geldleistungen für vom Versicherten selbst beschaffte Pflegepersonen (Pflegegeld, was sowohl den zeitlichen Aufwand für die Grundpflege als auch für die hauswirtschaftliche Versorgung berücksichtigt).

Die Pflegeversicherung wurde zum 1. Januar 1995 mit dem „Gesetz zur sozialen Absicherung des Risikos der Pflegebedürftigkeit“ (Pflegeversicherungsgesetz – PflegeVG, zugleich Elftes Buch Sozialgesetzbuch – SGB XI) als Pflichtversicherung eingeführt.

Sie bildet die „fünfte Säule“ der Sozialversicherung – neben gesetzlicher Kranken-, Unfall-, Renten- und Arbeitslosenversicherung. Die Träger der Pflegeversicherung sind die Pflegekassen, die bei den Krankenkassen errichtet wurden, ihre Aufgaben jedoch in eigener Verantwortung als rechtsfähige Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts mit Selbstverwaltung wahrnehmen. Alle gesetzlich krankenversicherten Personen sind seit Inkrafttreten des SGB XI in der sozialen Pflegeversicherung versichert. Alle Vollversicherten einer privaten Krankenversicherung sind Mitglieder der privaten Pflegeversicherung (PPV). Damit wurde erstmals ein Versicherungsschutz für die gesamte Bevölkerung eingeführt. Entlastet wird dadurch vor allem die von den Gemeinden getragene Sozialfürsorge, jedoch auch Einzelpersonen und deren Familien, die in Pflegeheimen als „Selbstzahler“ keine staatliche Unterstützung bei hohen Pflegekosten in Anspruch nehmen konnten.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pflegeversi…)

La Maison de Retraite USLD (France)

Autrefois appelées "hospices" puis "centres de long séjour", les USLD (Unités de Soins de Longue Durée) relèvent aujourd'hui du secteur hospitalier.
Elles sont réservées aux personnes âgées n’ayant plus leur autonomie de vie et dont l'état de santé nécessite une surveillance médicale permanente.
La Sécurité Sociale prend en charge les dépenses de soins mais ne rembourse pas l’hébergement ni les repas.
Toutefois, ces frais peuvent, dans certaines conditions, être pris en charge partiellement ou totalement par l'Aide Sociale, sous réserve de l'habilitation de l'établissement à l’aide sociale.

http://www.retraiteplus.fr/maison-de-ret…

Paying for care (England)

Paying for care is a complex subject, and everyone's situation is different. Your capital determines the level of support you can gain from your Local Authority.
What the local authorities will normally provide

There was a time when we would be looked after 'from cradle to grave'. These days, local authorities still provide a level of care for the least well off. But if the state thinks you can afford to pay, you will have to pay at least some of the costs of accommodation and personal costs in a residential nursing home:
England

* Your local authority may pay for the cost of your residential or nursing home care if your capital is less than £13,500
* Your local authority will still pay for your accommodation and personal care, but not fully, if your capital is between £13,500 and £22,250. For every £250 you have over the lower amount, they will subtract £1 per week from the money they contribute.
* You will have to pay the full costs of your accommodation and personal care if your capital is over £22,250. If your capital falls below the upper amount while you are in a care home, you will become eligible for help from the local authority.
...
Your home would be included in your assets only if you live alone, or you are both moving into a care home. In addition, the local authority will disregard the value of your home for 12 weeks after your admission to permanent nursing or residential care.

You will be expected to use all your income - including your pension, benefits, and so on - to fund your care. However, you can keep £21.15 in England and Scotland (£20.00 in Wales) a week personal allowance.

http://www.bupacarehomes.co.uk/asp/guida…


how to buy long term care insurance, nursing home costs, paying for care uk




Paying for Care

home / paying for care

See Also: Financial and Legal Advice

The following information is a summary of what is a complex set of rules and your own situation may well not be covered. The Care Directory can also arrange for you to receive free financial advice from an adviser specialising in care fees planning. Click Here for more details.

* Qualification for State Funding
* Self-Funded Care
* Twelve Week Property Disregard
* Self-Funded Care When Assets Are Close to Social Services Thresholds
* NHS Funding for Nursing Care within Care Homes with Nursing
* Attendance Allowance
* Carer's Allowance
* Pension Credit
* Mental Health Act 1983 – Section 117
* Continuing NHS Health Care

Qualification for State Funding

Generally, people are expected to pay privately for a care home or care home with nursing if they have more than £23,000 in England (£22,500 in Scotland, £22,000 in Wales and £23,000 in Northern Ireland) of savings and investments (the upper threshold), including the value of their home. There is a sliding scale of State contribution where savings are between the lower threshold of £14,000 in England (£13,750 in Scotland, £20,750 in Wales and £14,000 in Northern Ireland) and the upper threshold. People with savings below lower threshold will receive funding by the Social Services.

paying for careIf an individual owns his or her house, the value of the property is normally included in the financial assessment. There are some exceptions to this, for example when the individual’s partner is continuing to live in the house, the value will not be included in the assessment.

Since April 1993, the major responsibility for paying for care for someone with savings below the lower threshold (or contributing to care costs for someone with savings between the lower and upper thresholds) has been with the Social Service Departments of Local Authorities.

If an older person needs financial help to move into a home, he or she needs to contact the local Social Services Department. The individual will then be assessed to see if they need care and also to assess their financial resources.

If the individual is assessed by Social Services as requiring care, the Social Services Department may, subject to the funds available, agree to pay for care. The amount it pays will depend on the type of care required and in what setting. The amount paid will tend to vary from one Local Authority to another, in accordance with their own budgetary constraints.

In most parts of the country, there are homes which will accept Social Services funding and older people who qualify for this can live in these homes without charge. A qualifying person is entitled to choose any home regardless of cost, provided that:

* It offers appropriate care
* If the fees are more than the Local Authority pays, any top up will be paid by a third party
* The home is willing to agree to the Local Authority’s standard terms of service

If the older person has an income, such as a pension, that income is taken into account when calculating the amount that the Local Authority contributes.

Before making any making any financial commitments you should take expert advice. The Care Directory can also arrange for you to receive free financial advice from an adviser specialising in care fees planning. Click Here for more details.

For a free, no obligation, chat with an Independent Care Adviser call 0800 137 669.
top

Self-Funded Care

If an older person does not qualify for state funding for care, they will still have access to funding for Nursing Care and still be entitled to Attendance Allowance.

Costs of care vary greatly depending on location and level of care chosen. As a very general guide, costs of care tend to fall within the following bands:

* Care Homes From £300 per week to £850 per week
* Care Homes with Nursing From £450 per week to over £1,000 per week
* Home Care Agencies From £10 per hour to £30 per hour
http://www.nursing-home-directory.co.uk/…

Seniors' Care : Long-Term Care Homes

Long-term care homes are designed for people who require the availability of 24-hour nursing care and supervision within a secure setting. In general, long-term care homes offer higher levels of personal care and support than those typically offered by either retirement homes or supportive housing.

Long-term care homes are owned and operated by various organizations :

* Nursing homes are usually operated by private corporations.
* Municipal homes for the aged are owned by municipal councils. Many municipalities are required to build a home for the aged in their area, either on their own or in partnership with a neighbouring municipality.
* Charitable homes are usually owned by non-profit corporations, such as faith, community, ethnic or cultural groups.

Find out more about :

* Accommodations
* Services
* Costs
* Government Legislation and Monitoring
* Making a Complaint
* How to apply
* Related links

Return to top
Accommodations

Long-term care homes offer a variety of accommodation options. People living in a home pay a fee for accommodation that is based on the type or style of accommodation. "Preferred Accommodation" is the term used to describe private or semi-private rooms with special features, whereas "Basic or Standard Accommodation" refers to the style of rooms that the home offers in this category.

Note that the features of basic and preferred accommodation will vary according to when the particular home was constructed or renovated.

All long-term care homes have dining rooms and common rooms, and may also have features such as a lounge, gift shop, beauty salon, chapel, or garden.
Return to top
Services

All long term care homes offer 24-hour supervision and nursing care.

The basic package includes the following services :

* Furnishings (e.g. bed, chair), meals (including special diets), bed linens and laundry, personal hygiene supplies, medical/clinical supplies and devices (e.g. walkers, wheelchairs for occasional use), housekeeping, pastoral services, social and recreational programs, medication administration, and assistance with the essential activities of daily living.
* Nursing and personal care on a 24-hour basis and access to a physician, and other health professionals.

Optional services are usually available for a fee. They may include hairdressing, cable TV and telephone services, transportation, etc.

Homes must prepare a "plan of care" for each resident, outlining the care requirements and levels of service offered. This plan must be reviewed at least every three months and adapted as your needs change.
Return to top
Costs

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) provides funding for homes. The amount paid by residents for their accommodation is called a "co-payment".

There are two different terms used to define the length a person stays in a home :

1. Long Stay refers to accommodations that are obtained for an indefinite period of time.
2. Short Stay refers to temporary stays at a home. The maximum number of days a person can stay is 90 days per year.There are two types of short stay :

* The short-stay respite service provides a caregiver with a break from caregiving duties.
* The supportive care service provides the resident support to regain strengthand confidence, usually following a stay in a hosptial.

The MOHLTC sets accomodation co-payment rates. The following table shows resident co-payment rates effective July 1, 2008. The co-payment rates change from time to time (at a minimum, annually). For the most up-to-date rates, contact the staff at your local Community Care Access Centre.
TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION CO-PAYMENT DAILY AMOUNT CO-PAYMENT MONTHLY AMOUNT
LONG-STAY PROGRAM
Basic or standard accommodation Various styles (Depending on when the home was constructed or renovated) $51.88 $1,578.02
Preferred accommodation Semi-private room $59.88
(Basic plus a maximum of $8.00) $1,821.35
Preferred accommodation Private room $69.88
(Basic plus a maximum of $18.00) $2,125.52
SHORT-STAY PROGRAM
$33.75 per day $1,026.56

*Optional services (e.g. cable TV or hairdressing), can be purchased for an additional fee.

There is no preferred accommodation surcharge for short-stay residents.

Some long-stay residents in basic accommodation may be eligible for a rate reduction. The home Administrator can provide a rate reduction application form to residents to complete.
Return to top

Government Subsidies for Accommodation Costs

If your income is not sufficient to pay for the basic accommodation rate, there is a subsidy available to reduce your accommodation rate. Subsidies are only available for basic accommodation.

If you are moving into a long-term care home and your spouse requires financial assistance to remain in his or her home, there is a government benefit called "Exceptional Circumstances" for people with lower incomes or couples who have to live separately. For more information, contact your local Community Care Access Centre.

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/publ…
Posted by Born in the USA]]> Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:04:42 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]>
Unlike the comment threads in every other online media outlet on earth, I've always felt that SLOG is a community of real, live neighbors and human beings (most of you). I crave the give and take, the wit, and the passion here, which makes elswinger's passing very bracing and very sad.
Posted by Joe M]]> Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:53:09 -0700 The Stranger <![CDATA[Re: RIP Elswinger (Updated)]]> Posted by Nancy]]> Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:21:57 -0700 The Stranger