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By Doug Collins

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Older people are starting to believe the golden years don’t start until you’re dead

Feb 23, 2024 | 6:00 AM

SENIORS ARE PERHAPS THE MOST FORGOTTEN GROUP in today’s society. Every day, we see the tragedy that faces seniors. Old people left to literally rot away in a bed where they get little real care. No one comes to see them, they seldom get out, their systems start to shut down, and eventually someone checks on them and finds they’ve passed on.

Funds designed to provide some assistance to low-income seniors don’t go far enough, and while helpful for some, rarely go far enough to help those who wind up earning just above the limit of the funds. Seniors can’t find a place to live because the housing crisis has hit so many so hard. Old age pensions that go up way too slowly. No flexibility as to how funds are handed out, so those who still are paying off a mortgage are in the same category as those who are mortgage-free.

Many have no access to proper health care, can’t find a doctor, and because many are on a lot of age-related medications, there are many reports of seniors taking smaller doses than those that are recommended because they can’t afford the cost. I know there are many seniors who have maintained their health and are able to get around and enjoy life, but for every one of those, there are many more trying to get just enough to scrape by. Even if you have a decent pension, it’s not decent enough.

As seniors get more fragile, they need more help. It’s just not available. Home care and home lab services are poorly funded and often not well implemented by the government. These groups are often short-staffed even when the service is offered. Assisted living facilities are overbooked and often under-staffed, and they aren’t being built fast enough. Some are not run well, contributing to the problem. And if you’ve compared the costs, you will pay as much, if not more, than you’re paying now at home. And with rising prices for food in particular, you know the cost of being in those facilities is only going to go up.

Forty years ago, I did not ever think that maneuvering through the senior years would be as difficult as it has been. I certainly am better off than many, but the stress of dealing with expenses that hit you no matter how well you planned in advance is tough to deal with. It’s a dilemma that is faced by more and more of us, and while it is critical to take care of the marginalized, the homeless, the drug addicts, and so many groups in need, we need to understand that more and more seniors are becoming marginalized, but are often forgotten by governments at all levels. That has to change.

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And it isn’t happening quickly enough. It just isn’t. Another one of those issues we pay lip service to without providing serious, realistic support. I suspect we’ll see a lot more of those promises as we lead up to the fall election.

I’m Doug Collins and that’s One Man’s Opinion.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.