General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCutting Meals on Wheels?
My Mom got Meals on Wheels. She lived on a very small pension from my deceased Dad, and Social Security. She lived in a Manhattan apartment where I grew up. Because of her illness and age, she had a lot of trouble WALKING; going to the store, and bringing back groceries. She could not stand up for very long to let alone shop for groceries, but even to cook a decent meal.
I lived 50 miles away and had small children at the time, so I could not drive in to help her on a daily basis. We asked her if she wanted to come live with us, but that got an empathic NO. She wanted to live in her own home for as long as she possibly could. I never even mentioned a Nursing Home. Not only would there be no money for that, she did not need round the clock medical care.
Mom got Meals on Wheels which helped her to keep living in her own home. What she couldn't finish for dinner, she would save and eat for lunch or dinners when the service was unavailable. If this was not available, I could see her eating PBJ sandwiches, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, because that would be about all that she could "cook".
While I have sympathy for airline travelers being delayed for the furlough of air traffic controllers, and I understand that this is an accident waiting to happen also, how many of the sick and elderly will starve, and possibly die, because they cannot afford, financially or physically, to buy and cook their own meals? Meals on Wheels, despite what some may say, is a hell of a lot cheaper than a NURSING HOME.
Pitiful that it is always the most vulnerable of our society that gets hurt the most.
SammyWinstonJack
(44,129 posts)RKP5637
(67,032 posts)too removed to even have one ... kids, the elderly, disabled, sick ... and the poor. They are the ones neglected and run over, because they know others will kick their asses, so they get a free pass.
msongs
(67,199 posts)bike man
(620 posts)of Syrian refugees http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022556024
There's money for that, but no help for the frail, elderly, or infirm.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)is one of the cruelest things our so-called leaders in Washington have done. The only reason they changed the ATC cuts is because it inconvenienced them. They didn't do it so ATC workers could have a paycheck, or any other noble reason. It was pure self-interest and only hitting them there in the self-interest, will get them to change anything that might benefit the rest of us. We have to hit the streets, do a general strike and whatever else it takes to light a bonfire under them.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)...probably meant "deceased" Dad.
It is Obscene and Immoral that Congress would meet and quickly restore the FAA controllers
so that the RICH won't be even slightly inconvenienced,
and so callously turn their backs on those who really need the help.
If there is a hell, you know who is going there.
we can do it
(12,118 posts)DeeDeeNY
(3,352 posts)My parents were in their 90's living in their own apartment in Queens and we were out in Suffolk County. The Meals on Wheels program was a lifesaver for them.
Douglas Carpenter
(20,226 posts)Lobo27
(753 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)...terrorizing the elderly?
Hulk
(6,699 posts)The elderly and homeless don't have internet service, so they don't count. We'll let them die in the streets. But hey, we'll get those extra air traffic controllers up RIGHT AWAY for the fliers. Nation of sad shit morons.
Stewland
(163 posts)These elected officials who tell you they are Christians and vote to undermine the well being of so many vulnerable people are not really Christian in their actions. It's time to,call these Hypocrits out.
azurnoir
(45,850 posts)and why, how much was it really costing, would it have broken the bank to make sure our elderly are being cared for?
nightscanner59
(802 posts)Are there no workhouses?!? Are there no prisons?!?!!!!
BethanyQuartz
(193 posts)That would take care of the problem for the elderly who lost meals on wheels and for the kids who lost headstart and wasn't section 8 housing cut in the austerity measures (oops I mean that rascally sequester) too? Round them all up and get them tied to various machinery and our economy will boom again.
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)When I posted about it weeks ago, some said I was attacking Obama, some blamed the seniors.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022628227
They are also cutting Medicare funds without our realizing it. Not long ago, the co-pay for each event in the hospital was around 150. Now Blue Medicare asks 150 a DAY for the first 7 days as co-pay. You have to read the small print or get surprised.
Fearless
(18,421 posts)Fun times.
I remember when our party used to stand up for basic human dignity.
grilled onions
(1,957 posts)I have a very soft spot for all those seniors out there who may be mi;d;y confused or sharp as a tack. They deserve so much more than they are given today. After contributing to our society for a half decade plus they are now considered less important then anything from war supplies to allowing the ultra rich to pay next to nothing in taxes.
But many of us may need such a service as Meals On Wheels one day. If not for my spouse I would already be in that PBJ menu because I cannot stand,walk,lift etc. They have no concept how difficult it is to not be able to do for themselves. But Meals on Wheels often does more. By delivering meals they also are checking on the well being of those lovely people. It is often the only communication they get even when they may live in an apt complex containing many single apartments.
I wish I had the money to boost this program. I wish I had the power to stop the typical programs they think are too worthy to cut--like war toys!
HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)One of the women who brought Mom her meals would on her own time call her on the phone just to check how she was doing. This woman would also stop by to visit her just to chat and giver her companionship so Mom would not be alone. Most people don't realize this that these workers CARE about the Seniors they are feeding, and many times will go beyond just delivering meals to them.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Downwinder
(12,869 posts)Appears that this is a standard piece of Austerity, being cut in England too.
glinda
(14,807 posts)advertising bringing meals to your home but the caveat is you have to order several of them and then if you drop dead during that week, no one will know. At least Meals On Wheels visits everyday and notes when something is wrong.
Buns_of_Fire
(17,119 posts)"Never in history have so many owed so little to so few." That's not quite what Churchill said, but it fits today.
I hope every one of them who voted for this suffers from uncontrollable flatulence all the way back to their districts.
IrishAyes
(6,151 posts)Downwinder
(12,869 posts)lunchroom suffering from the sequester?
Lifelong Protester
(8,421 posts)He's a dem who voted "aye" on making sure the flight delays are taken care of.
I asked how he could be more worried about members of Congress and their corporate "sponsors" being inconvenience, and not worry about seniors getting Meals on Wheels or kids being kicked off Head Start.
I be they are all patting themselves on the back about what a great thing they've done to alleviate runway suffering, without at all understanding that they come across as shallow and clueless. As well as coming across as obsequious servants of the 1%.
Bonobo
(29,257 posts)Being cynical does not make one a Progressive! I learned that on DU today!
Dreaming of your pie in the sky is just "holier than thou" talk. Not actually Progressive, but in fact Regressive!
Incremental change! Yeah, that's the ticket!!