Living in a nursing home on medicaid in the USA is a living hell. There are way too few staff for those who cannot get out of bed or a wheelchair by themselves. They are pretty much left to die in misery or infections, while being given drugs that keep them alive.
This is not necessarily anyone’s fault, its a demographic problem and a side effect of drug breakthroughs that keep older people alive without keeping them from getting strokes.
I am reminded of the 1990s on This Week Sam Donaldson was preaching how cigarettes should be outlawed to save lives.
George Will asks him “And where will the money come from to take care of them?”
Sam replies “We will find it someplace”
A nursing home in Maryland costs about $6K per month, How many you think are prepared to pay that if they get a crippling stroke in their 80s? And a lot of people get strokes that that age(s)
Medicare does not pay for long term nursing care, medicaid pays for that once someones assets are gone.
My friend, from what I see those on medicare are getting better treatment than those who are paying. They don’t even have to fill out paper work. Same care, no worries about economizing. This is from what I observe at Mom’s nursing home.