Medicare’s cuts to home health are a step in the wrong direction

My grandmother lived at the top of a hill overlooking the magical mountains and valleys of the Ozarks until the day we literally had to drag her off of it. Our family was spread out across Texas and California working full time, so no one was able to check in on her regularly. When she had home health workers, they helped with her medications and recovery after shoulder surgery. Overly friendly neighbors also helped by changing her will and emptying her bank accounts — a story for another day.

Older Americans want to be cared for in their homes for as long as they can. But that’s not always possible, especially when families are spread out. Home health care workers make such care a reality for many families, including mine. I’m part of the sandwich generation: raising 9-year-old twin boys and helping take care of my 87-year-old mother-in-law, who lives with us. Before my father-in-law died, he had his wounds dressed right in my living room. My stepmom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and needed support to stay in her home before finally settling into an assisted living facility five miles from my home.

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