"I don't want to be sent off to a nursing home..."

None of us would choose to go off to a nursing home, but I believe the dread of it is overrated.
Further, I believe we do a disservice to the many who will at some time be entering a nursing home for what they realize at the time will be the rest of their lives. The disservice is in furthering the stereotype of how awful life in a nursing home is.

Almost daily for six years I visited a loved one in a nursing home; I also spent a week living in the nursing care unit while recovering from surgery. Your meals are prepared and brought to you, your bed is changed, and you have a button to request assistance as needed. Entertainment is often provided, and one can usually find a compatible person for conversations, etc. There have even been romances blossom.
There are many things distasteful about a nursing home, most of which come down to loss of independence - meals at a specified time, being told when to bathe, get dressed, go to bed, get up, etc.

I've also spoken with people who dislike being surrounded by "old people", which also includes the mental and physical disabilities of those aged. I personally don't dislike old people, though some are annoying, but there are some annoying people anyplace.

I won't continue hijacking the OP any further, but just felt I had to answer Fr. Kueng's statement re nursing homes.

Well put. nt

There was a report last evening that the woman suffered

from post-partum depression.
If accurate, that could account her unreasonable actions.

I cannot judge whether she had to be shot to death under the circumstances, but my heart goes out to her child left to grow without her mother, and to her family, left to "clean up" the mess.

David, I'm sorry you experienced that at the end

of your father's life. I'm sure the period after the first stroke was very hard on your father as well, as he lost his physical independence at a relatively young age.

If we have been fairly healthy and not involved in the medical field, we unfortunately learn more than we ever want to know when someone close to us experiences these severe illnesses.
And, as you know, although some could have been prevented with better life habits, others are completely spontaneous and just the result of our human body's inherent frailty.

It's likely your father's experience brought home to you the need for medical insurance, no matter one's age or relative health.

Remember, it goes into effect in January,

not immediately.

One of the worst scenarios I can imagine is having a disabling stroke,

unable to care for one self, including toileting, feeding, loss of use of a limb or limbs, perhaps not able to be understood in speech, and the constant pain that can accompany some of the muscle paralysis.

I know that keeping blood pressure under control and keeping arteries clear is important to avoid that eventuality. Also weight control and exercise, though I am not so great at that part of it.

But regular doctor exams help to prevent those problems, and well worth it for peace of mind.
I also feel I would have much self-loathing if I realized after the fact that I could have prevented the problems by taking small measures before hand.

There are also many bodily changes between 65 and 75, and each year thereafter. I have many dear friends in late 70s, and adverse things are beginning to happen, and these people, for the most part, tried to take pretty good care of themselves.

This is why I'm so glad I read DU - to hear a beautiful

story such as this.
Thanks for informing us!

I have the impression Medicare Advantage plans differ by the Insurance company

involved, and, as always, the size of the group for whom its intended, as well as the price acceptable to the group being covered., i.e., some want a plan as cheap as possible while others want a plan that will pay a larger amount and for more procedures, etc.

I also understood that Medicare Advantage is more for healthier individuals, in that they may offer exercise programs and health screenings and lectures. I have not taken advantage of those offered with my plan, but one possibility was Silver Sneakers, which is some kind of exercise membership at certain facilities nationwide.

My Humana Advantage plan was just for myself, as my spouse had one from employer before retirement.

I have Humana Advantage through my state retirement plan.

I was simply switched to it a few yrs ago by the retirement system.
As others have noted, the medical office or hospital I have visited sends the plan directly to Humana Advantage, which apparently has an agreement with Medicare.
I don't have co-pays when I first go to the medical office, but will sometimes have what I consider to be a small payment after Humana Advantage has paid its part. I'm saying something like $8, or $20 if it's a larger bill.
I've been very pleased with the Humana Advantage.
It seems I can choose my own physician, for I've never had a problem with that.
Prescriptions, in my state retirement's case, are handled by another company, Express Scripts, which charges ca $4 for generics. I have only one branded prescription, which costs about $74/month.
I've been very happy with Humana Advantage, though I have read that it may not be available next year (2015), under the ACA.
I can't verify that.

Headline Should Read: Eight White Male Republicans Wait....... nt