- The debate over healthcare reform for the past year has
- polarized our country. The philosophical differences degenerate
- into a clash of
- “
- isms
- “
- capitalism, corporatism, communism, socialism.
The debate over healthcare reform for the past year has polarized our country. The philosophical differences degenerate into a clash of “isms”: capitalism, corporatism, communism, socialism. These opposing views are just background noise compared to the countless stories of individuals that have inadequate healthcare coverage; individuals that have been denied due to pre-existing conditions and struggling families unable to pay their premiums due to skyrocketing costs.
The day after Congress passed healthcare reform, my 72-year-old mother fell down and broke her hip. Prior to her diagnosis and treatment, I received a phone call stating that she was in an ambulance enroute to the hospital, and I knew it must be a serious injury. My mother, a traditional Mexican herbalist, avoids doctors and has always been skeptical of modern medicine. Years ago, when she was a young mother, she broke her leg but kept it quiet from the family, putting on her own splint and telling us it was a bad sprain.
One truth became apparent in the weeks following my mother’s fall. Every patient needs an advocate – whether it’s a family member, friend, neighbor, or health care professional. The advocate communicates and relays information about treatment options to the patient in simple terms and relays patient concerns back to care providers. The injured or ill patient often cannot advocate for themselves. In my mother’s case, she was dosed with morphine for the pain which impaired her ability to comprehend and make decisions.
In our family, my younger sister took the role of advocate. She prepared a list of medications, vitamins, doctor contact information, and documentation on my mother’s medical history. When it was determined that my mother would require a hip pinning procedure, she ensured that visitors, nurses, and other hospital personnel followed the doctor’s instructions before and after the surgery. She stayed by my mother’s side to verify and confirm doses, physical therapy, and meals.
She even coordinated the time that the pain medication was administered to coincide with my mother’s physical therapy to maximize pain relief, since one of the medications only lasted for 20 minutes.
After my mother’s surgery, the hospital staff recommended we place her in a rehabilitation center for two weeks to recuperate. We are a large family, and, at first, we thought that this was an unreasonable recommendation. How could we let someone else look after our mother? We’re family, we’re available and live near her, and it’s our responsibility. Our mother, who detested hospitals, wanted to get home where she felt safe and comfortable. We supported her in this desire.
Nevertheless, reality set in. She was immobile and in constant pain and required around-the-clock care. Her home was not equipped to handle her physical therapy needs – use of a walker, hand railings in the bathroom, etc. After my brother toured several facilities and reported back to us, it was unanimously decided to follow the staff’s recommendation.
After a week, she transferred to the rehabilitation center. The doctors gave her a list of physical therapy exercises that she had to complete before they could release her to home care. Advocacy continued at this facility since the therapists and my mother did not speak the same language. My mother, though eager to go home, found the exercises painful, humiliating, and she became discouraged by her lack of mobility and her inability to be self-sufficient. Family members encouraged her, reminded her to take her medications, and pushed her to follow the prescribed regimen.
A family member was always by her side, and she was released to go home with another set of instructions for medication and therapy. She continues to make progress, and our family members check in on her daily routines and are available to go with her to follow-up visits.
The physician that gave me the first assessment of my mother’s injuries told me she was lucky. The implication was that many elderly are not as fortunate, and this experience has made our family realize that our parents may be accessing the health care system much more as they age than they ever did in their younger years.
My mother’s reluctance to seek medical care was not because she lacked adequate healthcare coverage. In fact, she has a good insurance plan. Many, however, are not as fortunate.
Navigating the healthcare system was a challenge even with family support and good medical coverage. We all need to advocate for our ill or injured family members, but we also need to continue advocacy for the numerous uninsured Americans as we await the implementation of the new healthcare reform legislation.
Mario Banuelos has lived in Morgan Hill for 21 years. He has served on the south County Dayworker Committee and is a member of the Morgan Hill Community Foundation. He is married and has four children.
