Crisis facing American seniors: Life as "elder orphans"
A quarter of Americans over 65 are at risk of becoming so-called “elder orphans” — facing loneliness, depression and limited access to basic needs. CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports on the emerging problem.
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When I was discharged from the hospital two years ago, they sent a social worker to make sure I had someone at home to help, asked if I even HAD a home to go to (they obviously deal with homeless people all the time, this in San Diego) and called two days later to check on me. Stellar care, all paid for by Medicare. My only cost for two days and nights was a few bucks for pain killers. Why do all hospitals not provide this? And the elderly people need to wise up and find a friend to move in with and share basic expenses. Housing, utilities and transportation costs don’t increase if you have two people in an apartment instead of one.
This is going to be a lot of Millennials in the next 50 years.
What’s the name of the app?
I am a proud American 58 years old and have worked hard and own my own busines for 30 years and done well and put back some money for retirement, but I have longevity on my side my grandfather live to be 98 years old and my father lived to be 94 and my wife is 43 and I have to take care of her when I get to that point will I have enough money for us to survive I think we have to do something now with our governments corruption
That’s me since before covid and still
One solution to such desperately sad incidents would be for neighbors to get together and take turns looking in on their elderly neighbors.
Less than 2 minutes on the news. PATHETIC. This is EPIDEMIC. POVERTY kills more people per year than all the wars put together. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET HELP???
I live in a small red dot .I have been alone totally depressed and chronic illness. People like me in such a pathetic stage had already scared off my family my ex wife who demands for a divorce after seeing me in such a stage. Friends abandoned me in a solitary second. That’s the real world. You cant run away from reality
Where can i can give money to help this people?
I’m getting to this point. I can usually get to my car to go through a fast food drive through. When I’m able, I get groceries for others in worse shape than I.
An App? Jeez the haves have no clue do they?
Thank goodness they helped him.
Don’t elderly patients over there get after care? If this man lived here he would have a nurse and social worker come in an help him after he came home from the hospital. USA should really start considering getting universal health care..
I’m sure he doesn’t need all that soda…
Don’t their kids live near them or at least keep in touch or even extended family??
This is a shame
I am from India I am ready to take care of an elderly person in the US if there is a need in the US please tell me if there is one๐
Iยดm from Mexico and I’d like to know why in Anglo-Saxon countries people tend to send their parents to care facilities.
I mean, I don’t understand why parents wouldn’t return to live with their children even if they required special care, it is very common in Mexico. Family over everything ALWAYS.
Not acceptable in this country
I am 92 years old and I am like those centenarians of the old Ural Mountain people, I live right and EAT RIGHT, I know about growing old which is why when I was in my 20s and 30s and assigned from place to place I always ask about the vegetables and HERBAL MEDICINES THEY USE in the local areas to where I am assigned, and I always get seeds and rooted cuttings and young seedlings and upon returning home I plant them in my own DACHA in Kazan where I have a very large greenhouse designed and built to last. The ones that can be replanted outside I allow them to flourish and I systematically harvest only 1/3rd to 1/4th of them on a rotation basis but I always planted 4 to 5 times more than needed so that they will have more than enough time to recuperate and become stronger medicinal plants, and I do the same to the plants inside the greenhouse. I am aware of the power of sprouts so when I am assigned overseas or in an another part of ny country I always make sure to get some generous amounts of sprouts and lots of steamed vegetables , very little fish, and almost no meat and no dairy products whatsoever. And I can still do things mentally and physically as if I am in my early 40s. My daily drink in the morning, afternoon, and evening is SIBERIAN FO-TI-TIENG, CHINESE FO-TI-TIENG, SIBERIAN GINSENG, and when I can get it and I always get it, a lot of Arctic edible sea greens. My DACHA IS PAID IN FULL, NO DEBTS, POWER AND WATER FOR FREE BECAUSE OUR WATER CAME FROM AN ARTISANAL WATER WELLS WHICH IS MORE THAN 2 MILES DEEP AND POWER COMES FROM A MILITARY SELF-REGENERATIVE MSR REACTOR POWERED NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS INSTALLED BY THE MILITARY DURING THE COLD WAR AND IS DESIGNED TO LAST AS LONG AS IT LASTS. You see, my village was designated as a military compound during the Cold War by the Kremlin which is why they really design and build things to last and it is still a military base. It has everything within walking distance like clinics, hospitals, all kinds of medical facilities for all kinds of emergencies and traumas, etc.
Bless you too, Marilyn too…such a Blessing you gave this dear, sweet man…you deeds will not go unnoticed when you pass from this world, into Heaven…Thank you a thousand times over.๐๐
Hello
How are you
This will be me if my husband passes before. Sad huh?
A neighbour should have been checking on him or they should have a buddy system in his town where someone comes to visit him and chat and perhaps play a board game or watch tv or something (in some part of UK they do). I would have loved to do that.ย In my town there is no one like that that I knowย (and they have programs for anyone run by the council or others if there are).I have been alone in some earthquakes and it is really frightening but I do not have anyone close by to run to, ย as my family are at workย a half hourย drive away.ย I am saved so I madly prayed in the last one.
JUST GLAD I WILL BE DEAD IN LESS THAN TEN YEARS. GOD BLESS AMEICA. YA.
Totally heartbreaking. But this is becoming a much wider problem in Western countries, I’m afraid. No one – young, old or inbetween – should be left in such dire straits when vulnerable.
Bless this gentleman. I hope he’ll never again be left in this situation.
They don’t want 2 get marry,,no kids then in old age they r alone.
Recently, I have read an american book that published in late 70’s, the book has talked about elder-lies as if they are a new problem
Iam disabled, I suffer from severe chronic pain 24/7 .I injured my spine n neck in a car accident. Plus all the injuries I received from working very physically hard in the oilfield industry. And I have degenerated disc disease, arthritis, depression, anxiety ,etc… and head injuries. I can’t afford to pay rent.i can’t even afford to feed myself. Luckily my brother is letting me stay @ his apartment. Iam also diabetic. I only have Medicare. Had my gallbladder removed, bioduct repaired, 5 pulps removed from my stomach. I just about died from all the infections. And now I have to try to come up with money to pay for my hospital bills.havent paid anything yet n the hospital handed all the Bill’s to Collection. Etc… plus I owe on other hospital Bill’s from before n after my 5 surgery’s I had.and it only been 7 months sense my operation n there coming down on me hard for not paying attention to my bills.i keep praying for God to have mercy on my soul.i can barely walk.i run out of options.and I don’t drink nor use illegal drugs.
My health insurance company will provide, free of charge, young people that will give elderly folks help like this. Isn’t that wonderful? We also have grocery stores and pharmacies who deliver food and meds for little charge. Last year, I contacted Visiting Angels service to take me to doc appointments if I am having a procedure for which I can not drive home. My kids all work. Have kids. They would be glad to help if necessary, but I do not want them to feel obligated. My health insurance company is Paramount Elite and available in Northwest Ohio and probably lower Michigan. Maybe a larger geographic area, don’t know.
I thumbed up the video need to share 25 comments all people need help old people need help.
God bless! โค
Such situations will never happen to the elderly in the coming 200 years proud to be an Indian ๐ฎ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ณ๐
I’m not trying to sound unkind to anyone like this man but there’s something fishy here. Did this man have any children? If none nearby move closer to them.
If he and his wife never had any kids could he have not hired someone or move into retirement home?
This broke my heart…I have watched this same thing going on in the UK and some other European countries and sit here shaking my head. Most of the elderly people have given to their respective countries in the form of hard work for their entire lifetime and then this happens…why? These people are the most vulnerable and frail of and also a wealth of knowledge…we need to change our way of thinking and end this in our country and also in the other countries…this is a world-wide disgrace, when we especially consider that none of these countries are 3rd world countries…we should be able to fix this in our countries and still be able to help the 3rd world countries too.
This is gonna be like half of Millennials in 50 years, especially with everyone wanting to go child-free. Smh.
Let’s help Americans first and send immigrants back home.
There’s one thing I just do not understand our country is worth so much money but this corrupt government keeps putting it in their pockets and give it away to foreign countries and do nothing to help Americans I have put money back for myself but without Medicare and my Social Security to help it might be a little rough I’m 58 years old and now that they have pushed Social Security back where I can’t even draw it until I’m in my late 70s the Republicans call it entitlement I call it investment they took money out of my business for years and that’s ridiculous that I would not be able to use it, especially since I see factual evidence of our corrupt government taking money from us and also all the money going to these foreign countries and illegals and not to Americans
the problem is that the writer is in his 70s, to avoid confusion he wrote his book in 1976 and he was 70 year old, his definition and suggested solutions which have never thought of before mean that the problem is made rather than exists. Probably from an economic prospective aged individual business make good money.
Its crap in the UK too. Massive fuel rises, ditto food, people having to choose between eating or heating, manic amounts of immigration. Seems like oue governments would prefer us older people to top ourselves and save them a load of trouble and money. Don’t worry – its coming to them sooner or later and that lovely thought helps so much. ๐๐๐
Grubhub.
With all the home delivery companies something should be set up for elderly .
Time for home care robots
see the movie Robot & Frank
Love me some SPAM!!!
Where are his children? No children? No nephews and nieces? No younger cousins? No younger relatives?
The food I saw in the cupboard was garbage….most sheeple are fast asleep! A wide awake individual would not eat that junk much less need the help to get it!
The government especially democrats do not care about elderly people. But they go out of their way to help illegals. Wake up America.
๐ข
Because the old are dismissed in our society. Totally unacceptable in many other countries. Our society see the elderly a as weak, a burden and bothersome. They don’t live with extended family which is a disgrace. In other countries they see the elderly as full of wisdom, intelligent and strong and the matriarch of patriarch of the family. America should be ashamed for that attitude.
How the world has changed in 5 years….you can get your groceries delivered now. You can get McDonald’s delivered. Almost anything..
online groceries.
Do not eat pork.
Where is his sons ???