| Abstract
The increasing influx of various health care problems
in America is threatening the social development
of the country. At the same time, the rise in
the percentage of old aged people who need series
health care and nursing home facilities is another
social challenge America is facing these days.
Therefore, the government has started working
to secure these old aged people medically as well
as socially. In order to achieve this goal, the
Government of USA has also launched a website
for the easy access to all the needy people. Moreover,
various non-profit organizations and independent
health care centers are also working to provide
basic health care facilities along long-term as
well as short term residential and nursing home
facilities.
The following research is conducted in 3 well
known health care centers, which are briefly discusses
under separate headings and then compared to get
a conclusion for the functioning of the Medicare
centers and Nursing homes. This will also help
understanding the obstacles in the smooth functioning
of various organizations. These heading include:
Introduction, Lutheran Home and Services, The
Moorings Health Center, HCR Manor Care Foundation,
Comparison and Conclusion.
Introduction
Health care issues are one of the most concerning
issues among the various social and economic issues
the world is facing today. There was a time when
health care was not provided in a modern and organized
form. Nonetheless, with the passage of time, not
only the health problems increased but also the
health care services developed and are provided
under various private as well as local organizations.
However, the increasing influx of many health
care problems related to the social culture in
America are at rise that is threatening mankind.
At the same time, the various Medicare and nursing
homes are facing challenges due to financial shortcomings
or at times mal-administration. Though there are
many other factors that are obstacles in the smooth
functioning of some Medicare and nursing homes.
Furthermore, with the development of modern technology
and the fast moving world by just a click on a
dial up, various health care organizations are
offering their services via Internet. The Government
of U.S.A has also developed its official Medicare
website (www.medicare.gov) for the easy access
of its people for any kind of information related
to health care issues or Nursing homes. The center
for Medicare Services was basically a medical
aid program for the old age people as they were
the poor part of the American population and most
of them did not had any medical insurance. Therefore,
in July 1965, the social security Act authorized
this governmental Medicare center, which started
working from the next year by enrolling around
19 million individuals. In the following years
around 22 million individuals were enrolled which
also included some permanent kidney failure patients
and disabled individuals, however, the number
of people enrolled are constantly increasing day
by day. Therefore, the increasing influx of patients
and their health care needs required more capital,
which was looked after by a Health Care Financing
Administration organized by the government. (Medicare’s
Milestones accessed on 10-05-04) Moreover, the
policies were extended according to the need and
more technology was added for the treatment and
facilities to the patients with the development
and modernization of the country.
Lutheran Home and Services
Lutheran Home and Services is basically a health
care and retirement organization, which is located
in Arlington Heights. Basically it provides health
care services to the aged people of the American
population. Their services include all health
care facilities like, dental services, dietary
services, mental health services, nursing services
as well as various clinical and laboratory services
to the old aged people. They provide a large number
of beds for both Medicare and Medicaid nurses
and patients. They also have a well-calculated
staff to look after the various departments separately
for instance, the ratio of part time and full
time nurses to work with the administration are
2.14 to 5.36. Similarly for other health care
duties nurses are hired on both part time and
full time basis. Therefore, this health care institute
not only provides nursing homes but also satisfies
the basic health care needs of the aged people
in the society.
The Moorings Health Center
This is another health care service provider that
extends to both long-term as well as short-term
health care support. Moreover it also provides
permanent residence with complete medical care
and social security, for the needy. It also facilitates
its health care services for people from any area
and any community. The internal environment provided
to the patients is very appealing as it has open
rooms to allow sunlight in, large dinning rooms
where these old patients can socialize themselves
and fell independent. Another important aspect
of this Health Center is the arrangement of various
programs like computer classes, coffee shops and
other campus services like barber shops or beauty
shops etc. (“Never Surrender Your Independence”
at Presbyterian Homes) so this makes the old aged
patients feel life in themselves apart from social
and medical security.
However, they maintain their authenticity and
social security by providing a license to its
patients, which ensures personal care, shelter
and other housekeeping facilities. At the same
time, they have organized exclusive health care
services relating to various diseases and health
issues, for instance, rehabilitation services,
professional nursing services specifically in
sensitive departments. (“Never Surrender
Your Independence” at Presbyterian Homes)
Moreover, it also allows researchers and social
workers to offer their services, which develops
a nation friendly atmosphere in the center. Therefore,
the Mooring Health Care Center is working very
actively providing the basic health care activities
to the people as well as offering a very friendly
and homely environment to make them feel independent.
HCR Manor Care Foundation
The Manor Care is another health care foundation
is a private health care organization providing
financial support to various health care organizations.
At the same time it works independently providing
health care facilities and nursing homes to the
old aged people especially who are in need of
acute care services. (HCR Manor Care Foundation
http://www.hcr-manorcare.org/)It works under HCR,
but offers a wide ranger of health care facilities
with skilled and trained professionals and Alzheimer's
assisted living centers. At the same time it provides
around 350 nurses at a time on duty to the organization
for its smooth functioning.
Though it is an independent non-profit organization,
it works with complete legality to ensure the
long-term security and health care services to
its patients. Therefore, it offers a high-quality
medical care via registered (RN) and licensed
(LPN) nurses as well as Certified Nursing Assistance
(CAN). Moreover, it also provides various physical
and occupational speech therapies to the disabled
and old aged patients. (Manor Care Foundation
http://www.hcr-manorcare.com/) Among its various
health care services, it also provides a wide
range of socializing program to allow people to
express their feelings, experiences at the organization
and share with the world via their official website
maintained by the HCR Manor Care Foundation. Therefore,
it offers its service in a very extensive way,
which includes hospital care services, nursing
homes, and private assistance to schools and other
organizations for health care services.
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