Smart comedians have a remarkable way of using humor to reveal unflattering realities.
Such can be said about John Oliver’s recent monologue about the various challenges facing our nation’s long-term care system. In his 22-minute-plus diatribe, he covers a lot of ground, including nursing homes’ shortcomings in caring for residents during the pandemic, the persistent problem of inadequate staffing, the flaws of the Five-Star Rating System, private equity’s prioritization of profits and senior living’s lack of federal oversight.
In his argument, he manages to draw on some of the most extreme care lapses, including one that involves an alligator preying on a dementia resident near a senior living community.
It is a sad tale. But, ultimately, what makes the report disturbing is the undeniable realism that lies at the core of it. Yes, he finds the most egregious examples and takes aim at industries that are too easy to mock, given the exceedingly difficult work they do. (And we all know that most people don’t have the stores of patience and compassion that employment in these fields requires.) It’s also pivotal to point out that there are many stellar long-term care and senior living facilities that go above and beyond everyday to serve their residents.
But he hits on an idea that has become all too evident during the pandemic: The system needs reform.
The answer, he asserts, is expanding government-funded home care. There is work to do. He points out the problem of unpaid family caregivers who are unqualified to provide medical care at home. He also talks about some states’ waiting lists of people hoping to receive Medicaid-funded home care.
And while there need to be adequate guardrails put in place to prevent potential abuse, he says, home care presents a better alternative than many facilities. It’s also where people want to be and, well, it likely doesn’t involve alligators.
Liza Berger is editor of McKnight’s Home Care. Follow her @LizaBerger19 and email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on McKnight's Senior Living
