Experiencing Hospital Care: A Revelation About the Decline of Geriatric Services in Our Country
In-patient and Prepared
God provides healing. Doctors provide the bills.
A few months ago, I started to unwind. I crafted memos and left sticky notes. Sleep turned elusive. I suspected it was just the leftover effects of the notoriously discussed pandemic.
I felt cold chills. Naps, which I had never taken before, suddenly became a necessity. Sleeping through the night was a distant dream.
Food became a mystery. I lost my sense of smell and taste, and as a result, I shed 12 pounds. The cause was unknown, and it still remains a puzzle.
Everything came crashing down on January 7, when I had to brace myself against a wall just to stay vertical.
The hospital experience. ICU. An unending series of tests, syringes, machines, specialists, medications, pills, injections, and examinations—checking my heart, monitoring my kidneys, and assessing the financial toll.
A second opinion was requested. It wasn’t clear whether it came from a medical professional or my accountant. A “second opinion” typically signals surgery, resulting in double the hit to your finances.
Specialists still haven’t identified the underlying issue. What is this elusive “it”?
Mindy provided bagels and cream cheese, while Rachael contributed more bagels. I received chicken soup from Utica, chocolates, and orchids from Keith. Dinners were lovingly made by Francine, and Elvis from Canaletto sent full meals, as did East Side’s Beach Café and the distinguished Italian restaurant, Primola.
As for our presidency—something you might have heard of—Buchanan, who was departing and leaving the battlefield to Lincoln, remarked on March 4, 1861: “If you’re as happy, my dear sir, upon entering this house—as I am to leave it—and return home, you are the happiest man in this country.”
There was also John Adams (no relation) who famously commented to Abigail Adams (not related to Eric): “I heard General Washington say, ‘Me fairly out and you fairly in, let’s see who among us will be the happiest.’”
Of Stories and Anecdotes
In lieu of food, here’s something amusing from Jersey podcaster Levon Putney:
The Italian soccer club Lazio dismissed a falcon handler for sharing photos of his own prosthetic penis online. Yes, you read that right. I have no additional details, except that this podcaster is in for a bright future.
Additionally: Rats at the Houston Police Department chewed through a bag filled with psychedelic mushrooms.
Also: A Virginia woman hired as a prostitute stole keys, a car, a wallet, a cellphone, and even a badge while her officer was in the shower. I mean, talk about being transparent.
Not the Place for Quick Fixes
Modern hospitals seem to shy away from older patients, the sick, the impoverished, the foreigners, and even those with families.
They prefer solitary, affluent middle-aged individuals who can afford the costs, only suffer minor injuries, and receive blooms that urge them to “get well quick” from Blue Cross.
What’s next? A self-serve operating table? A DIY MRI? If you’re unwell, hospitals often regard you as an interruption to their phone calls.
The decline in geriatric care today is detrimental to us all. If you fall into that category—better to stay home and cough alone.
Your caregiver might be from the Philippines, the doctor from India, your family hitting the golf course, and your bill might just hang on the doorknob.
If you muster the strength to reach that doorknob, congratulations—you’ll be discharged from the hospital.
Unwelcome Skies
As they wheeled me back from an MRI, I overheard: “A Moscow University professor told his students that we are close to interplanetary travel. Soon, we’ll be able to visit Mars, Pluto, and Venus.” One student raised his hand and asked, “Yeah, but when will we get to travel to America?”
Thank you for sticking with me through this. I genuinely appreciate it. I’m off to bed now. Thankfully, I don’t have to return to the hospital until next week.
