Nursing homes deserve more credit for caring
American nursing homes operate under more regulations from local, county, state and federal oversight than nuclear power plants. The work is not for the faint of heart — physically or mentally.
Our society and economic climate increased demands on families since the 1970s. In order to make ends meet, the luxury of having a stay-at-home adult in a household isn’t a viable option for most. The decision to place a loved one in long-term care is one of the hardest decisions a family makes in their lifetimes. There are an estimated 1.3 million elderly requiring care and supervision 24 hours a day, seven days a week in America. Families must choose between providing for their household or sacrificing sleep, socialization and self to take care of a parent who has had a stroke or has dementia or other health issues.
Nursing home staff provide the professional care essential to the health and welfare of their residents, from specialized diets to providing social and physical well-being to administering (sometimes unpleasant) medical procedures.
They are sometimes physically or verbally assaulted by the people they are caring for, and they still go about their day and come back the next day to care for the same person. They have stayed at a bedside to comfort the dying. On their own time, they pay respect to families at funeral services. On their own dime, they purchase luxury items for residents just because it gives that person joy.
In response to an AP article (DP-3-22-20) know this: The level of staff and wages a nursing home can pay are dictated by Medicare and Medicaid through a complicated cost reporting system that establishes caps on the wages they will reimburse a provider. Seventy percent of those in nursing homes rely on Medicaid to pay the bill.
Until our government is willing to fund and provide nursing homes with the ability to attract and maintain staff in this profession, only those who are dedicated — heart and soul — to this hard work will remain.
Cynthia Nelson
Morgantown
Reader wants more local contributors for paper
I would like to thank high school student Vaageesha Das and The Dominion Post for the outstanding science columns that Ms. Das writes. I have learned from them all and I especially enjoyed her March 21 column on the definition of the kilogram.
Like most readers, I read The Dominion Post for local, state and regional happenings but especially for local news, events and perspectives. I would hope The Dominion Post would seek out more contributors like Vaageesha Das. The coronavirus has ended local sports and the important coverage that you used to provide.
This is the time to flood our paper with columns from community members. I’d like to read columns from high school seniors about how they have been coping and what they find fun and fascinating today. I’d like to hear from WVU students about their new online academic lives. I’d like to read columns from parents, from teachers, from laid-off workers as well as those still working and from many others who are in different situations.
When many of us are shut in our homes, please open up our paper to the many good writers like Ms. Das in our community.
Cliff Hawley
Morgantown
Diseases usually named for country of origin
Since I have been cooped up, I thought it would be fun to have a quiz. Can you answer the following questions correctly? The answers are below.
- Where did German measles originate?
- Where did the MERS virus originate?
- Where did Japanese encephalitis originate?
- Where did the SARS virus originate?
- Where did the Asian flu originate?
- Where did the Spanish flu originate?
Answers:
- Germany
- MERS stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome because it originated somewhere in the Middle East.
- Japan
- China
- Asia, specifically China.
- Actually this one is a little tricky. The first reports of the flu did come from Spain, but it is not entirely clear that it originated there; nevertheless, Spain got the honor of the name.
Diseases are commonly named after the country or area of origin. You wouldn’t know this to hear the mainstream media accusing President Trump of being a racist and/or xenophobic because he referred to the Coronavirus as the “China virus,” specifically in response to a Chinese government official saying that the American military originated the flu and brought it to China.
In another time, the news media would have rightly jumped on China and defended the U.S. Regrettably, in this era of group identity, politically correct politics, the left wing mainstream media will do almost anything to promote their group identity agenda, even if it means damaging America and propping up a totalitarian regime.
By the way, China has imprisoned large numbers of Muslims in re-education camps simply because they are Muslims, but the media will overlook that to trash President Trump. Is it any wonder why the polls show that Americans have so little respect for the mainstream media?
Michael Callen
Morgantown
COVID-19 crisis bad time for increased fire fees
The Morgantown area is fortunate to have a higher than average percentage of government employees. They will continue to be employed and benefit from their defined benefit pension plans. But most in the private sector receive their retirement benefits through a defined compensation plan — 401K. These plans have seen a 25% or so decline in value due to the decline in the stock market. And businesses in our community, even with government aid, will find it difficult to recover from the impact of the virus.
So now is not the time for the city to increase its fire fee by 23% The struggling small businesses and those living off a 401K can ill afford this increase.
During these difficult times, the city should improve its relationships with the VFDs in order to utilize their equipment and manpower when necessary. For example, the Star City and Westover VFDs could call in their personnel when the City of Morgantown is facing an all hands on deck major fire. The two volunteer companies could respond to a second fire in the City of Morgantown or be utilized to support Morgantown firefighters at the major fire. Protocols could be developed between the parties to eliminate management issues. The VFDs would be reimbursed for their service.
The City of Morgantown will suffer greatly from the temporary closure of businesses. The B&O tax will be reduced and the hotel/motel tax income will all but disappear. The city will soon be looking for a new manager. But even the most accomplished manager will have a six-month learning curve to understand city operations. I suggest the city call to service someone who has excellent credentials and knows the city well — Dan Boroff. While I’m sure he would rather remain retired, he has a great love for our community and may be willing to assist in this time of great need.
Denny Poluga
Morgantown
Reader responds to McFeatters op-ed
I just read the article by Ann McFeatters (DP-3-21-20). Her bias doth shine through boldly! Miss McFeatters gave 10 examples of good, bad and ugly things going on in the U.S. presently. In her opinion, and yes it is opinion, all things bad and ugly can be attributed to President Trump. I, for one, do not agree. There are legions like me. We will vote. Calling a spade a spade is truth. The virus started in China and it is a Chinese virus, period. The truth will set you free!
President Trump has been trying to get the U.S. to understand how outsourcing our production of vital products to China is very dangerous. Well, this pandemic has proven how right he has been. We need to produce things in the U.S. for the U.S. The money being poured into lobbying for China is staggering. Our ruling class and the MSM are promoting China over the U.S. even with the glaring weakness that has been exposed!
President Trump is not perfect, but I am glad he is in charge. He shut down air travel from China on Jan. 31 against all advice. What would a President Clinton have done? What would a President Biden have done? Biden immediately said shutting down travel from China was racist and he would not have done it.
Thank you, President Trump, for being the “Salty Sailor” that is much needed in these times. Thank you, President Trump, for donating your salary for this country. Thank you, President Trump, for waking up every day and fighting for the U.S. Thank you, President Trump, for calling evil, evil.
Larry D. Efaw
Morgantown
