Tory minister calls for introduction of social care insurance

Sorry to read that PQ

It funny this thread has strayed to voluntary euthanasia, do I want to see all my hard work spent very quickly at £1000 a week when I am a vegetable that cannot enjoy life.

Euthanasia has its attractions!

That's so sad Hetty.

I'm with you there David euthanasia if I'm in pain that cannot be controlled or am unable to enjoy life but not to provide DS with an inheritance.

It always upsets me when I hear of someone worrying about spending their hard earned money on what they want or need, because they don't want to spend their C's and GC's inheritance.

David at last we agree about something, especially your hard-earned cash lining the pockets of the owners of Care Homes, who pay their staff peanuts.

Pink quartz
I agree with you. My mum passed away this year in hospital after a short stay with a stroke. At 90, she had done well but with dementia, it was too much. The home really wasn’t for her and I felt so sorry that it came to that. Mum just wanted to go home. It just upsets me to think....too much

I feel very sorry that you feel a failure pinkquartz. It is sad that worth and status is measured by what we have, where we live, and not who we are in our acquisitive society. Much better if we all rented, if it was controlled, perhaps German style would reduce much stigma.

I feel in two minds about voluntary euthanasia. On one hand I feel some with degenerative or/and terminal conditions who really want, should have the option to end their lives. On the other hand I worry that over time safeguards will become relaxed, as has sometimes happened in Netherlands, and those who are not terminally ill, and those unable to decide for themselves, ie with dementia, may be euthanised.

This is one of the most pressing issues of our times, the other being climate change.

My FIL had to go into care when MIL could no longer care for him. We were both working full time and there was no alternative. He lived for another four and a half years, entirely self-funded except for the 24 hr attendance allowance which was less for a week than the cost of a day's care. That exhausted all of his life savings but MIL remained in their home.

Soon after he died, MIL had to go into care, so their house was sold, and she also received 24 hrs attendance allowance, but no other state help. Their home was sold and the proceeds did just manage to fund the rest of her care for the next five and a half years until she died.

They both spent their last years in pleasant care homes with us visiting very regularly, and although they had to pay, it was their money. We did not feel we had any right to inherit it.

'

There is no natural divide between so called 'social care' and care of the sick. There is a need for many of a comparatively inexpensive grade of practical nurse and general domestic helper who can draw upon higher level care when the patient/client needs it.
In addition there needs to be a designated person who is paid to orchestrate the several specialist services such as health visitor, GP, physio, pharmacy, and occupational therapy, dietician for people in care in their own homes.

Any less is care on the cheap .

Greeneyedgirl

I do wonder about a slippery slope, but if a person is already physically ill and in pain there could be an official declaration made with a solicitor and witnesses to say that beyond a certain point the wish for euthanasia can be carried out at a future time Nothing rushed..
I must look up how it happens in Oregon State as I believe it is legal there.

With dementia is a much harder choice. I don't really know what I think because there is much more chance of someone being "bumped off" against their will.
And then again as with CoolioC's mum, that poor lady would have wanted to have relief from her suffering.

It would be good for a debate at least. And for it always to begin with a person making the choice, not a relative and definitely not the State ( like Social Services).

Really thing it would be better to discuss this on another thread, personally.

To my mind, there is nothing wrong is a real debate going on about some form of social care insurance-

what is really disgusting is campaigning making lots of promises, and barely a day later- completely change your tune. About this, and now workers' rights, environmental issues, meat and agricultural production, etc, etc, etc.

*pink quartz”
Mum did say some 18 months before passing that she had had enough. I wonder if the move to the home accelerated this.

Don’t know if you ever get over losing your mum.

Pinkquartz, care of a demented person who s suffering intractable pain is a problem which I don't know has been legislated for. I hope you find out useful info.

I have written by hand and had witnessed my living will to get adequate pain relief even if it kills me.My living will is with my solicitor, my GP practice, and I have another copy for the ward sister if needed.

Thank you Alexa
I will look into this.
I would like to choose as you have stated.
adequate pain relief even if it kills me
I have had a living will on my mind. so it will be better to do it sooner rather than later.

I am putting this on my long term To Do list. It is important to be realistic.

It is important to be realistic, pinkquartz, I do agree. Paperwork is a great bore but once it's done you can put it out of your mind and stop worrying.

My sons know what I'd like.

I had saved up some ancient tranquillisers for committing suicide if need be but one of my sons was clearing out my cabinet and seeing they were well out of date took them to the chemist's to be disposed of.