Our local paper, the Roanoke Times, is doing a series of articles, interviews on our local aging population – services needed, how families cope etc.
One cause for concern, is that our aging population is much higher than most other Virginia Cities – equal (in percentage) to Miami or St. Pete Fla. I have enjoyed the articles, interviews and appreciate the professional take the paper is doing – but one point I fear our paper will not make, is that aging populations are looked at by some, as great business opportunities.
Retirement homes, assisted living, long term care insurance, home care… Great ideas, right? What if the goal is profit, not health care? What if a Nursing Home costs $5000 a month and your long term care insurance will pay up to $100 a day – who pays for the rest? What do families who have money do, to get care for someone with severe dementia or Alzheimer’s? Can you find out which facilities are not for profit?
By highlighting those services available, the paper will be performing a great service, but without giving the full picture of who is performing these services, I fear some valuable information will be missed.