Over time the financials behind health care have increased dramatically. In the 1960s, the average being spent on 1 person's health care was $1,066. In 2007, it jumped to $7,421 (Staff, 64). The predicted amount for 2018 will be $13,100 (Staff, 64). Even though we spend increased amounts of money per person per year, doesn't mean that we jump ahead other nations as being defined as a healthier country (Staff, 64). Currently, my family is on COBRA, a government regulated health-care service, for those who are unemployed (laid off). For the first few months, COBRA, while not extremely cheap, has low monthly payments. When the person reaches their last few months of COBRA, the monthly payments increase dramatically. When a person's time on COBRA runs out, they have no health care and have to find a new, private plan. Currently, the U.S. is ranked at number 31 for life expectancy as well as number 37 for infant mortality. (Staff, 64).
Being Sick/Facing Terminal Illness:
When one finds out that they are going to die, they aren't quite sure what to do. They experience a whirlwind of emotions (Albom, 48). When Beth came in to be a guest speaker, she explained that Erik was a fighter, and never wanted to let people see him suffer. This was very similar to Morrie in Tuesdays with Morrie because one of his main concerns was not needing someone to "wipe [his] ass" (22). Instead of focusing merely on the negative, Morrie discovered a positive to his ailment. He had missed a loving childhood, and having people look after him became his solace. This was due to the babying he received, it gave him the feeling of peacefulness of which he missed in childhood (92). On the contrary, with my personal experience with those who are aging, they always want to be independent and complete tasks on their own.
Isolation:
As a society, we isolate the ill or dying in order to relieve ourselves of guilt or pain. When watching the film Near Death, we were presented with ill patients, who were going to die no matter what the doctors would do to attempt to save them. We also viewed conversations between the groups of doctors as well as nurses, discussing how to take care of these patients. If a patient was unable to speak for themselves, the doctors would talk about family input, rather than any previous input by said patient. One family didn't want to even see their ailing family member because it was "becoming too much for them to handle". The situations presented in Near Death showed us that society isolates the ill, but tries to keep them alive as long as possible. As an opposite, in Tuesdays With Morrie and with Beth's story, the ill/dying were kept as close to family as possible. Morrie, instead of staying at a hospital had aids who helped him with every day tasks. Beth also kept Erik at home as much as possible because he didn't like the stillness and whiteness of the hospital.
Isolation:
As a society, we isolate the ill or dying in order to relieve ourselves of guilt or pain. When watching the film Near Death, we were presented with ill patients, who were going to die no matter what the doctors would do to attempt to save them. We also viewed conversations between the groups of doctors as well as nurses, discussing how to take care of these patients. If a patient was unable to speak for themselves, the doctors would talk about family input, rather than any previous input by said patient. One family didn't want to even see their ailing family member because it was "becoming too much for them to handle". The situations presented in Near Death showed us that society isolates the ill, but tries to keep them alive as long as possible. As an opposite, in Tuesdays With Morrie and with Beth's story, the ill/dying were kept as close to family as possible. Morrie, instead of staying at a hospital had aids who helped him with every day tasks. Beth also kept Erik at home as much as possible because he didn't like the stillness and whiteness of the hospital.
1. Staff of Washington Post. Landmark. Public Affairs. New York. 2010.
2. Albom, Mitch. Tuesdays With Morrie. 1st. New York. Double Day. 1997.
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