When I saw that the COLA, or Cost of living adjustment, will not be accorded retired seniors for the second year in a row. Two years behind heavy increases in all aspects of living, gas, food, heat and cooling: well everything has gone up everywhere we go.
With the difficulties financially, as seniors often can no longer work, and are not being invited into many job situations, and many are being thrown out of companies they spent their whole lives working for a secure retirement.
These are a few of the reasons that I cannot agree to "measure G" the property tax measure which will add another burden to the overburdened. The KVHD adminstration seems to be selling this bond increase without any consideration the seniors and disabled.
Growing old is not for sissies
Most of us work all our lives trying to put children through college, raising grandchildren, holding together relationships, and in the end we find that there are few who even have considered, it will be you someday making these decisions, finding yourself in a financial struggle, or having to spend time in a nursing home.
Pat McGinnis of CANHR, California advocates for nursing home reform, told me that there is much resistance in government to help find answers to clear out the problems in nursing homes and treat them with dignity.
"There are more than 25 thousand people right now who are being abused in nursing home throughout the state."
The Kern Valley Healthcare District faced the very things that continue to keep the eldery and long term care patients on the bottom list for care. Short staffing, keeping the money at the top, rather than with the caregivers who tend to the patients.
What an honorable job to help those who have lived many kinds of lives, have contributed to the well being of others, and now need help.
In an article below, it spells out the cruel nature of our elder care system. It's called, "Elder Abuse: America's dirty little secret." The title of the site is intriguing, "renew America." It's a good article for anyone young, old or compassionate.
http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/connor/101016
When the KVHD board gave the CEO a raise on the night the GOB went on the ballot
KVHD board chairwoman, Victoria Alwin,
addresses the raise for new CEO, Tim
McGlew.
One odd thing was she and the board didn't do their homework and had not known what the normal
salary for a rural hospital CEO would be.
Not only that, but they had to ask CFO, Chet Beedle, what the CEO's were paid in the past.
McGlew came into the postion of CEO/nursing home administrator, with a salary 60 to 80 thousand more than the average salaries a normal hospital would pay.
"I don't know what we paid the other CEO's, but there's an old saying...pardon? What did we pay the other CEO's on an average chet?" Alwin asked.
So, without any information, salary averages, knowledge, Alwin asked chet what did we pay in the past. He mumbled 150, meaning $150,000. Without blinking an eye the chairwoman suggested a few things.
Dr. Robert Gross and Victoria Alwin
look to Chet Beedle for a figure on
how much the previous CEO's were
paid. They obviously rely soley on
the CFO and CEO, information, as obvisouly
they didn't do their homework. Not prudent.
Alwin suggested a flat $30,000 dollars raise for the CEO, without any research of her own on the average salaries, nor, any understanding that asking the community pay a partial on an old debt, bury the valley under two bond, and then said something that has not left my mind since that night.
She explained that a 3% raise for the CEO, would be after taxes, roughly four hundred dollars.
"So what I suggest is giving a good size raise, like I said, $400 dollars is cute..."
I bet the seniors and disabled don't think $400 is cute, in fact, it could pay for propane, food, help pay for home care, any number of things.
It could also help pay the property taxes on measure g.
I found that whole line of thinking offensive, and as I've reiterated to take a "higher than normal salary" and add to it, not know the history or averages of these salaries, but yet make a vote to put it into effect, is nothing to be proud of.
I'm backing the seniors in this race as we don't have to do this there is another option or three.
Chet Beedle looking uncomfortable
as Alwin adds up the millions of dollars
in losses incurred by the hospital due
to mismangement. Though Chet seemed
embarrassed, Alwin then blamed former
CEO, Rick Carter for the problems.
I hope this community helps itself by realizing you can ask all the questions you want of the administrators, but that doesn't mean you understand what is really being said.
So, Alwin, thinks $400 is cute. It may be the difference between heat and cold for some seniors. and now, even meals on wheels has cut their service to one meal a day.
We need to think about the seniors both in the sense of quality care and staffing in the nursing center here in the valley, but we all need to consider that it was elder abuse, death, that occurred right under our noses in this small town.
Good article from Renew America, please read. We have to think about this issue as this is a senior community with a growing senior population.
Such a shame Dr. Gross turned his back on everyone in the community, and that he is now against Kay Knight, because she doesn't support the bond. The real agenda Dr. Gross has is that if the Measure G bond passes, he stands to receive a great sum of money for his wellness center. Sounds a little like a self-serving interest.
ReplyDeleteSince we seniors will be paying for this tax measure with our "cute" money, one would assume the hospital employees would give up some of their own. Most exactly the CEO. How can the hospital committee allow such misuse of funds? If these elected members vote without background on any issue they should get the boot. Would that be cute?
ReplyDeleteMy question for you Ms. Hart is: If Mr. Carter is the cause of the problems at KVHD why did it take the administation and Board of Directors 18 months to figure this out? Or is he just the easiest one to blame.
ReplyDeletewhy don't you shut you big mouth nobody wants to hear it! We trust Tim and Chet you won't change anything except get in our way. Vote for Measure G and keep our ER going. I work at the hospital for years and Measure G wil pass without your screwy stories on this stupid blog. Don't read this crap I warn you its not true and Hart knows it. She just wants attention. Do you feel important Laura? Your nothing get used to it. you a nut case maybe you should use the new pshicatrist. Vote for Measure G and save our hospital from closing. Let Hart have it!
ReplyDeleteTo "proud KVHD employee": a more suitable moniker for you might be "loud mouth, illiterate ignoramus". Pick yourself up a primer on spelling and grammar. Practice that, and when you've nailed it, move on to constructing cogent thoughts. Then you'd be ready to go out and post to public forums. You'd also be intellectually overqualified to work for KVHD.
ReplyDelete...and I should add, "proud KVHD employee" is more than likely a product of the California Education System. This is what tax payers get when coerced into funding unaccountable bureaucracies that are insulated from competition. Unless you want more of the same embarrassing, substandard results from your local health care district, don't bail them out. VOTE NO ON G!
ReplyDeleteSo proud... who is forcing you to read this blog? You should try reading more it might help you become a bit more proficient in writing.
ReplyDeleteAs for trust, not all the employees at KVHD trust Mr McClueLess.
You might also want to do some research on the spell check option on computers. So if "G" is passed you will have a pshicatrist available. No thank you I think I will vote NO and find a real psychiatrist, should I have the need.
My comment refers to the radio show the other night. Some creep called the voters who don't want to bail out the hospital,"cheap." Sir, I live on less than one thousand dollars in one month. You are probably young speaking without thinking yet you do not understand how expensive it has become for many of us to live these days. I read the hospital board has a similar way of attacking the issue. I will vote no on this measure but will reconsider if they rethink their attitudes. No on G.
ReplyDeletethe flippin idiots needs to find a solution not a tax hike. what kind of stupid managers wokr there? I tell all my friends and any person I meet to vote NO to this hospital. Can you tell I'm angry because we used to love this valley where my eldery mother lives, the one who can't make it on the money she get now. I'll move her lock stock and barrell out of here if they vote this tax hike in. You SOB's take the money your going to be see angry faces. One more comment to Victoria Alwin your class sucks so does you logic. you make students walk the line what about you? My mother needs 400 dollars what if you pay her yourself if you can throw away money at the hospital. Cute glad to see how much you eat up money. do you put sugar on top?
ReplyDeleteI can totally understand the need to believe in your management, Proud Employee, however; I don't believe that you are aware of all the facts. As far as yo u threatening Laura and calling her crazy; well there it is in black and white, so to speak. It does not make you look very good. I wonder if you were one of the employees who decided to put my mom in restraints instead of helping her to the bathroom. She had to go to much and they were too busy to keep answering her button.
ReplyDeleteThis and other incidents that I'm sure continue to occur are reflected in your comments Proud Employee.
Oh, and if you are so proud why not identify yourself? Maybe not as proud as all that. Huh?
I am voting no on G not because I don't want to contribute to my community, but, because I don't believe the current administration or the board has properly prepared a plan for this money.
As far as our telepsycaiatry is concerned, don't hold your breath. Medi-cal is not aware of any projects of that kind now or in the near furture. So there you go.