Jump to content

How should we care for the Elderly?


observer

Recommended Posts

The PM has forcast a ?6billion deficit in the budget for elderly care in 20 years time. :shock: It seems currently, that the means tested system means that if you have been thrifty and have assets (your house); they are used to pay for your care; if you have nothing, it costs you nothing! :roll: Some argue that this is unfair, but another arguement would be; why should kids inherit something they havn't worked for? :shock: At the end of the day we all pay in some way, but what is the fairest way? :?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In the US everything you have is sold to pay for your care in your old age. But then they take that a step further, when the money pit has run dry then they go after the next of kin to kick in with the payments for the on going care of the aged and infirm. I would have thought that the taxes they have paid all their lives should pay for their care.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

America is fundamentaly different because everything there is covered with insurances of one form or another so in theory if you don't pay you get nothing....

 

In UK, as Obs has said, we pay throughout our working lives to fund those already in the system and supposedly after retirement, the next lot of workers pay for us. The big issue is that currently, the system allows for those with assets to be pilaged into poverty and then the state will pay for the care you need, but the feckless and workshy and non-savers get it all for nothing. Now there are those who can't afford to save like others but it does make a mockery of saving for your old age if all you are doing is saving so that the government can take it off you!

 

Care for the elderly should be free and if necessary, should be free at the expense of taking benefits off those who choose to stay at home for a living.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Care for the elderly should be free and if necessary, should be free at the expense of taking benefits off those who choose to stay at home for a living.

 

Are you saying that the woman who chooses to stay at home to raise her kids should have all her benefits stopped??

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IF, we had a progresive tax system (and NI), that taxed folk in proportion to their ability to pay, thus closing the wealth gap, I'm sure sufficient resources could be mustered to provide State Care from the cradle to the grave, free at the point of need. :? Currently, there is a glass ceiling on NI payments, so the super-rich are let off the hook. :roll: As for "stay at home Mums"; child rearing should be recognised as an essential feature in the development of stable families and a wider cohesive society. :? In the case of the "work shy", most folk "on benefits" are currently worse off, if they work, and some graded/phased payment system needs to, be considered that makes them "better off" IF they engage in some form of usefull employment, even if it only a few hours litter picking around their local area. :wink:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Care for the elderly should be free and if necessary, should be free at the expense of taking benefits off those who choose to stay at home for a living.

 

Are you saying that the woman who chooses to stay at home to raise her kids should have all her benefits stopped??

 

No, but a woman who choses to stay at home to look after her kids who are at school can work between 9 and 3 can't she? or she can work a few hours at night if her husband/partner is at home?

 

It just needs a bit of forward thinking.

 

and anyway, what "benefits" are available to someone who choses to raise kids instead of working>? Apart from family allowance I didn't think there were any

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name="KeithR

and anyway' date=' what "benefits" are available to someone who choses to raise kids instead of working>? Apart from family allowance I didn't think there were any[/quote]

 

Child Tax credit, Child Benefit and Working Tax credit for their partner if they earn below a certain amount.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

BazJ

"America is fundamentaly different because everything there is covered with insurances of one form or another so in theory if you don't pay you get nothing"

 

I guess the point I was trying to make was that once they start taking your houses it will only be a matter of time before you find youselves on the same path as the US system. When my father-in-law was taken into the nursing home the government took everything, his bank accounts and safety deposit box was frozen. He was given a 60 page booklet of questions to answer about his finances, one question I had to read a few times to make sure I was reading correctly was - 'Do you or ANY MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY have any gold fillings in your teeth.'

And after they have finished they turn to the next of kin to bail up.

 

Incidentally, it isn't called national insurance but they still take their share, on my wages they take:- federal tax, Massachusettes tax, social security tax and medicare tax. But I'm still not entitled to any of the benefits.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

one question I had to read a few times to make sure I was reading correctly was - 'Do you or ANY MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY have any gold fillings in your teeth.'

And after they have finished they turn to the next of kin to bail up.

 

Didn't Hitler and his mates do that a few years back?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Could get worse than that Baz; there may come a day (given overpopulation, increasing aged population and care costs); that once you start to become a financial liability, they'll give you the needle - in fact some may argue they're already doing it in our Hospitals [NFR]. :shock::wink:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Care for the elderly should be free and if necessary, should be free at the expense of taking benefits off those who choose to stay at home for a living.

 

Are you saying that the woman who chooses to stay at home to raise her kids should have all her benefits stopped??

 

Yes, once maternity period ends

 

I was a single dad for 5 years before remarrying, and I worked throughout and took care of my own.

 

now married we both work despite having three children to look after.

 

children are a life choice, you choose to have them and you should support them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Because of "equal rights" demands, we now have women being driven out to work, and being forced to dump their kids with someone else - so little bonding, little quality time etc. :roll: We now have an increase of 25% in teenage female crime, cos girls are trying to ape the boys, all in the name of gender equality - there can be no absolute equality because there is an absolute physical difference - vive la difference! :wink: As for supporting kids (child allowance etc): this can be an instrument of State management of demographics, as we're told that the increasing size of the elderly population can become an unaffordable burden for a smaller working generation. :roll: Conversly, as in China, over-population can be a consideration in limiting State support for child production. :wink:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...