Relief as we age...

One of my long time projects is about to get another big boost. In April 2010, we incorporated Cord of Three Strands Care Center, a potential non-profit, in an attempt to move toward a community that combines continuing care strategies and aging in place. This month, I signed up for classes as a long term care administrator.

Unfortunately, as many ideas that come up, none has met the goals I have in mind. We will keep looking, most likely to build the community ourselves.

One of the things I must keep in our community is the ability of family caregivers to remain close by. Family caregivers, if they do not already share a living space with their elderly family member, have so many issues to deal with. The cost of being in-between for them often means something suffers. If not quality time with their children, it's quality time with their elder or their spouse, because they cannot do a task to help one without worrying about the welfare of the other.

Very little time is left for themselves.

A care community that builds on the family caregiver's willingness to be there for their loved ones (all of them) needs to be able to provide tools, people and planning that enhances the relationships built among people who have a like mind to sharing problems as they get older.

That's Cord of Three Strands.

It will be so. Amen.

We the People

Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness - Inalienable rights.

So, our leaders insist on throwing money at the economy.

What do you need? What does anyone need?

Food, Water, A place to sleep, Utilities, Transportation, Communication, Health...

Things that, as a small community, people took care of. Even for the neighbors who couldn't.

Why, now, that we are a worldwide community,do so many go without?

Why can't we,

$50 for food, for each person, each week?
Free water?
600 square feet of home, untaxed, unable to be taken?
Basic Utilities, heat, electric, a/c?
Basic Transportation?
Landline communication?
Basic Health?

What would it do?

As a community, we would save money. Everywhere.
As a community, we would be at peace, and without stress. Everywhere.

We wouldn't worry about crimes committed in desperation. Those who steal or murder because they feel it is their last hope.

The only crimes would be those for whom the care of the community isn't good enough.

There are always those.

Let taxes of 50-60% start AFTER the basics. We pay that, anyway. Add it all up, folks... Take care of the basics, then build.

How many people find themselves in desperation, not able to pay for health care?
The choice between medicine, and food?
The choice between home, and work?
How to get to work, when there is no transportation?
How to remember an appointment, even though they'll call to remind you, when there is no phone?

How much time do our social workers spend saying "no" "NO, I'm not allowed to do it that way!
Quit your job. Then, I'll help. Get too sick, then I'll help! Be unable, then I'll help!"

"Be less than your best..."

What an awful thing to say.

Let those who can, be the best they can. Let them work to their hearts content, without saying, "If you make too much money, you don't qualify for help."
And those who REALLY can't... let them feel they can.

Don't give me money. I'll just spend it, and pay taxes back to you. Give us real relief.