加拿大面臨人口老齡化之趨勢，一些健康欠佳和不能照顧自己的老人對護老院的需求不斷增加，使它成了一門供不應求之生意。
據我所知不少護老院是私營的，以牟利為主；也有一些是由慈善機構創辦的，以服務社會為目的。其中良莠不齊，收費亦很參差。
本文旨不在批評護老院之服務質素，而着重於探討入住護老院是否老年人唯一之選擇。筆者舉出以下兩個例子作為討論之依據：
甲女士是個寡婦，雖然兒孫滿堂，却選擇獨居。不幸晚年患上了帕金遜氏病(Parkinson’s disease)，行動不方便，不能照顧自己的日常生活。為此她僱用了兩個工人：一個為她打掃炊煮，一個作為她如影隨形之貼身護理，直至她百年歸老為止。甲女士不但有經濟能力，而且懂得利用金錢去照顧自己，保持了個人的尊嚴與生活的質素。
乙女士年過八旬，年初喪夫，才孤獨生活了幾個月就把房子低過市價出讓給她其中的一個兒子，然後入住一家華人經營之護老院。乙女士兒孫滿堂，却無一自告奮勇去照顧年邁的母親。乙女士雖然不屬腰纏萬貫之富婆，但絕對有足够之經濟條件去維持獨立之生活，要僱用一個全職或半職之工人來為她打點一些家庭雜務和炊煮是件輕而易舉之事。不但如此，她仍舊能够行動自如，而且視覺和聽覺也沒有毛病，為何一定要入住護老院呢？
聽聞乙女士在選擇護老院為自己歸宿之前把大部分資產分給了兒女，自己只留下一少部分作為養老之用。冷眼旁觀，她的這個决定需要慎重考慮。萬一將來對護老院的生活不滿意時，手頭無足够之財力又怎能走回頭路呢？
常說兒孫自有兒孫福，何須處處為他們着想？人貴自立，過分照顧子女可能會培育出一些萬事依賴父母和永遠不成熟的下一代！
黄啟樟 2011/9/20
www.davidkcwong.blogspot.com
2011/9/29 加拿大商報
David:
ReplyDeleteSo Canada is having the same problem as the US. In Hawaii, almost one fourth of the population are senior citizens. (23.6% to be exact).
Expect the children to take care of the old like 子曰:老吾老? That's really異想天開. Here, practically all homes for the old are out to make money, be they wave the flag of religion, charity or whatever.
Monthly charges range from $5,000.00 to 8,000.00 or more. Therefore, not too many could afford to live up to a hundred years old.
By the way, I visited your blog and enjoyed reading your articles, particularly that one on Hong Kong being awash with opportunities. You
should go further by mentioning the following examples:
1. During the Korean War, many people made a fortune by smuggling embargoed stuff openly to mainland China.
2. The Vietnam War made Hong Kong one of the four Little Dragons.
3. The declaration that Hong Kong be returned to China in 1982 made the British colonial government open the coffer widely to 大派金錢. Not only benefiting their civil employees, but also people who work in their "Financial Department!"
4. Now that China has turned capitalistic, it enables real estate to catapult sky-high making our friends in Hong Kong all mega millionaires in term of US dollar.
5. The SAR is so overloaded with cash now that it's beginning to pass out HK$6,000.00 to every permanent resident 18 years and older. And we are talking a region with a population of some seven million people.
Joe
David:
ReplyDeleteIn Ontario, when the poor gets old and is incapable of looking after
oneself, he/she will be put into a nursing home. However, there is no
choice for him/her for private or semi-private rooms. He/she is put into a
ward, normally a semi-private arrangement and sometimes, a room for 4.
His/her old age security cheque and if he/she is entitled to CPP benefits as
well, these cheques will be directly deposited to the nursing home as
payment to cover the cost. If the amount of these benefits cannot cover
the cost of the institution, under the welfare system, the government will
pay the balance to the nursing home. In short, tax payers pay the balance.
That is why in our society, you will notice the whities do not have the same
attitude as we yellow skin have. We save for the rainy days and they spend
and spend because they think when the rainy days come, they will be taken
care of. However, when you look at the globe as a whole, this attitude
will have to change as we can no longer lean on the government anymore.
Anthony
David:
ReplyDeleteIn my previous mail, I mentioned that the welfare system will take care of the balance. However, one must realised that welfare will only be given out after the government goes through an examination of the assets of the individual, and also examine his income tax record. All these steps are necessary to avoid the transfer of assets to his relatives, and claim that he has absolutely nothing. For those that really has nothing, there is nothing to fear. But for those that has hundred of thousands a few years back and then all of a sudden, these assets disappear, they will investigate where has the money disappear too.
Anthony
David,
ReplyDeleteAllow me to contribute some complementary information to Anthony's.
Although all the Government cheques will be directed to the nursing home once the senior in a long term nursing home succeeded his application requesting Government financial supports, yet Government will still pay him/her a monthly cheque of about $ 100 to help paying those bills like foot care (about $20), hair cuts (if not by staff about $35), medicines (not covered by Government, about $15 per month), even buying her own daily uses or eatings (like ice cream), etc.
There are many Long-Term Care Home Operators in Ontario under the Ministry of Health, some are chains like Leisureworld, some organised by popular Chinese Charity Groups like Man Sheng and Yi Hong. In most Long Term Care Homes there are private accommodations (one person per room with en-suite washroom) and basic accommodations (2-4 persons per room with attached washroom). The charges are standardized by Government, the rate will increase annually by the annual increase in inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Presently they charge $ 1619.08 per month for basic and $ 2166.58 per month for private room. Only those who stayed in basic accommodations can apply for Government assistance. If successful, they will enjoy the benefit as stated above.
Eddie
Yes, I have read your latest article about the housing options for the elderly. Totally agree with your opinions.
ReplyDeleteAmanda