On the Chopping Block: Medicaid and Independent Living Threatened
As if accessing the services and resources we need to live quality lives were not challenge enough, recent threats to government programs exacerbate our obstacles.
Hello Legislators? Disability Issues Overlooked in 2024
Here we are again, another year, more upcoming elections, and a huge demographic of Americans are still struggling to be heard over the entitlement of the able bodied who take for granted society’s tendency to cater to them almost exclusively.
TLC: How the National Caregiver Crisis Turns People With Disabilities into Low Wage Jobs & Their Caregivers into Welfare Recipients
I have ranted extensively about Medicaid’s institutional bias that forces people like me into facilities, and about the profit driven quality of care experienced in these institutions. I’ve touched on the exploitation of direct care labor but not enough. This one is for them.
Social Insecurity: No Uncle Sam Doesn't Have Our Backs
Just another way this nation can afford to do better but those in power lack the perspective to prioritize effectively and ethically. And they really should. Because eventually most of us will need somebody to wipe our ass, and we all love somebody in the broken long term care support system.
Government Sanctioned Exploitation: Skilled Nursing Facilities
There’s something sick about exploitation of hard working people and extremely vulnerable people, and that’s what the SNF industry is doing. Why does our government let it? This industry thrives on neglect, poor care and death. No matter how hard the aides try, someone is always neglected because of poor staffing.
Profit Over People: Assisted Living Homes Are Guilty Too
Assisted Living homes are considered this cash cow, so greedy people lunge on the opportunity, but the cash can only be made by skimping on the care that it is supposed to pay for.
Forced Institutional ization: Medicaid's Preference of Facilities
While institutions like nursing homes are mandated by the federal government , home and community-based services are provided at the discretion of the states.
Lessons from Spinal Cord Injury 9 Years In
Spinal cord injury almost took everything from me: My body, my health, my sensuality, my independence, my lifestyle, my career. Sometimes I marvel that I didn’t retreat into that dark place forever. But I found myself again and made a life again, under a decade in. This disability won’t take anything else from me. And I’m going to snatch back everything possible that it stole.
Independent At Last
Four years. That’s how long I have been stuck in the institutions. Because how can I afford rent on measly social security? And also pay for the home care services Medicaid won’t cover? Just finding caregivers is difficult.
Shuffled Away Again
I have ended up in an institution twice now for a lack of alternative resources. On both occasions I just couldn’t get by on the meager 40 hours per week provided by Medicaid. I’m going to try to do it again, as I am working with voc rehab to increase my autonomy and independence. My problem this time is I simply can’t afford to live out there in the world on a disability check. So I’m waiting on a low income apartment to become available.
Nomad Soul
My heart rolls back up to beautiful, desolate Navajo land, into the beloved Redwood forest, and along the Oregon Coast. It lingers long in California. My heart remembers and longs, oh how it longs if I let it. Not for my legs but for the places they would take me.
Like I've Got Nowhere To Be
I tried to schedule transportation after scheduling a doctor’s appointment only to be disappointed 3 times in a row this time. At my wits end I called the news stations in the city and got Channel 12 to come out and interview me.
The Trauma & Drama of SCI with Limited Resources
When you live with a disability like this it could be an average Wednesday morning where I go about my business in a pretty calm and relatively happy frame of mind that lasts all day. Or it could be like this morning and I feel like I just went through a war.
Disability: An Exercise in Invisibility
Recently in defensive of this nation, someone told me that the U.S is a country that makes sure EVERYONE survives and thrives. I don’t think I have ever felt so invisible. So in case it isn’t clear to anyone else, people with disabilities are fighting like hell to matter still.
