[DBrow]

I think the old “social clubs” like the Odd Fellows, Eagles, and the like, were “mutual aid societies” in which you paid in when you could and you got help when you needed it. You had to be a member, though. The Masons and Odd Fellows I know had nursing homes.

I always wondered if it was unions or Social Security that put an end to that.

[JustTheTruth]

A large portion of charity medical care performed by physicians ended after government took over payment, made healthcare less affordable, and started dictating to physicians based on being their largest payer. There are still many physicians voluntarily providing a lot of charity care, but proportionately such voluntary care is markedly reduced in most communities, due to governmental interference.

[hinckley buzzard]

The progressive movement after the turn of the century deliberately opposed and discouraged private charity. They held that private charity only served to "let government off the hook" for what they considered a legitimate government function and responsibility. This was how the 'Social Work' business started--Columbia even founded a "Social Work School" to teach this drivel--as a cadre of activists who saw their mission as bringing government relief to the people and not relying on private associations.

Sick, I know, but that's the way it was, and still is.