The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-12-13
State House Beat =.
FRANKLY SPEAKING
By FRANK SMALL

| ferlng discounts on large purchases
of tranquilizers, which is an invitation
to break Montana laws governing
prescriptions.
| Ethical practice in nursing homes,
rest homes and boarding and room
establishments is rather difficult to
enforce. However we are lucky to
have operators of the caliber that we
do have. They have formed Nursing
Home Association and are trying to
police themselves. AS the public real
ICES the function they perform they
can expect growing support from
other segments of our society.
Hospital administrators admit that
their facilities are geared only to
that crucial care required by the very
sick. The transition period before and
after the need of such care is the
rightful function of the nursing home.
The nursing home operators are
discovering some rather interesting
things in their work. For example,
nothing cures bed sore faster than
social contact. Nothing stimulates
or brings a person out of himself
more than another person. While 1T
is much easier for a nurse to do her
work with a tranqilized bed patient
the real secret of nursing home is
the patients group therapy, which
they perform for themselves in an
automatic way if given the chance.
A person can grow old In their
own home but when they lose social
contact they are better off in a nurs-
ing home. In Missoula county they
have established a visiting nurse for
old people and are starting a shop
ping service for them. Gray Ladies
visit hospitals but the need for visits
to old people not i'm need of hospitali-
zation is very acute. If you don't
take time out to visit an old friend
you may be doing actual physical
damage ito them.
Five thousand old people are now
receiving Public Welfare assistance
which averages about $40 per month
This ranks us about 10th in the list
of states. The highest paid is SITS
for pair living in their own home
which has been assigned to the county.
A single person can get $88 month
to pay taxes, buy food and medicine.
A nursing home has to have about
1925 person monthly to make ex-
penses. Most counties pay $21O for
nursing home care except those not
requiring state assistance grants
which force nursing home operators
to give the care for sos per month.
Fortunately funds are now avail
able for nursing homes. The FILA
now has enough experience to know
what is required in the way of build
ing standards and the Small Business
Administration can now see the need
for such businesses.
At present, insurance plans are
about the best hope of meeting the
need for medical care. Of particular
interest is the plan entered into by
8roadwater county with Blue Cross.
ALI persons over 65 are covered in
he county and if a person needs as
;istance the insurance is paid for
lim by the county. This is cheaper
or the county than to pay the entire
,ost of disqualification.
City and county governments are
health, and welfare bene-,
its for their employees and this same
'ractice should now be extended to
tate employees. 1t would have been
n the last Legislature if the Republi-
ans hadn't gone off on some screw
all hate campaign about socialized
1edicine-said "hate" having moth
ng to do with the ever present prob
ems of growing old.
BY considering the problems of
Id people surprising number of
Kings are coming to light which do
OF just apply to old people but chill
rem also. And to those in-between.
And when that old irrascible cat
ime- throws her hooks into you and {
ou open the door TO old age it would
e nice if you didn't have to step
ITO cruddy anti-social hole. Send
to the Legislature who will
n com otbipor fo,- xuo,,