post from health care student from another university

As a student majoring in health care administration at UW-Milwaukee, I understand how complicated long-term health care can be. Looking at my future career path, medical and health services managers must be prepared to deal with the integration of healthcare delivery systems, technological innovations, an increasingly complex regulatory environment, restructuring of work, and an increased focus on preventive care as the industry continues to rapidly change. Health care administrators are also being looked up to for advice on how to improve the efficiency in healthcare facilities and the quality of the care provided. This puts a lot of pressure on the members in my field to understand the complex healthcare system to recommend the most effective solutions available. Everyone seems to be affected by the regulations put on long-term health care at some point in their lives in some way or another, which is why it is such an important subject to address.

Personally in my family, my grandmother had to go into a nursing home in Brookfield after her second stroke because her boyfriend was no longer able to fully take care of her. Had it not been for medicaid I am not sure how my family would have afforded all of her expenses for the next 3 years. And the service provided was adequate, she was in good hands but I wouldn't say it was exceptional, especially for the price we were still having to pay out-of-pocket. Throughout, my grandmother was never happy there either making it difficult to fully support the staff at the home and their recommendations. She was able to recover enough to live back at her apartment, but now her funds have decreased. Even though my grandma put a good amount aside for retirement during her life, those 3 years cost her most of her savings and I think my family feels that we must be more conservative with her spending.

The CARE system now being proposed does seem to be a step in the right direction. On the other hand, it does seem to be the cycle of life that we must save as much money as possible to end up just spending it all in medical bills down the road. My biggest fear is that as healthcare continues to get more expensive, the money I will save once I start my career and the money out of my paychecks going towards government health programs will not be sufficient enough for even those older than me, and I will then not see a dime of the money I worked to save for my old age. In my opinion, many aspects of long-term healthcare need to be improved and as technology evolves further people will be living longer, and I am not assured right now that there will be enough affordable care for everyone in need.