Take time to be grateful for providers of home care

Take time to be gratefulfor providers of home care
EDITOR:
When you are sick, where would you rather be treated? Bets are, you would prefer the security and comfort of your own bed in your own home.
More than 4.5 million Americans agree with you, which is why we have been celebrating National Home Care Month and National Hospice Month this November.
As we face the stiff challenges of state budget crises, record federal deficits and an attempt on the part of the House of Representatives to slap a copayment on Medicare home health beneficiaries during the toughest part of their lives, it is fitting we take moment to recognize the miracle that is home care in America.
When your mother, father, sister, brother and neighbor are struggling with a disability, dealing with a chronic or terminal illness, or recovering from a recent hospital stay, home care and hospice professional caregivers have the answer. Modern home care can provide the patient with everything from chemotherapy to shampoos. Home-care providers work diligently to keep Americans in their homes, where they belong.
Why do we celebrate? More than just providing excellent care where and when patients need and want it, home care and hospice save the United States and commercial health insurers billions of health-care dollars each year. There is no more cost-effective provider of health care in our country. Period.
As the 21st century continues to unfold, the fundamental domestic issue becomes obvious: How will we provide high quality long-term care to our parents and eventually for ourselves? The answer is home care and hospice, which combines care, compassion and cost effectiveness.
As we prepare for Thanksgiving and recall our many gifts, please remember the home care and hospice professionals who make a difference every day for our nation's seniors, disabled and infirm. They make it possible for home care to be where the healing begins.
CHRISTINE H. SCHERER
Youngstown
XThe writer is assistant director of HM Home Care in Warren and Youngstown.
Democrats are setting stagefor Hillary's presidential bid
EDITOR:
It is quite interesting but not surprising, Hillary Clinton received 43 percent in the Quinnipiac University poll, as reported by Zev Chafets in the Nov. 4 Vindicator. Her nearest rival was Gen. Wesley Clark. He received 10 percent, all others seeking to become president received less than 10 percent.
Clinton, D-N.Y., for the most part has not ruffled any feathers. She maintains a low profile in Congress, has not had any legislation passed, attended the 9/11 memorial services and as one country song prescribes, she stands by her man. Although she insists she will not be a presidential candidate in the 2004 election, as popular Democrats bite the dust, the not could become a maybe.
President Clinton is now paying Hillary back for standing by his side. Actually, Bill Clinton is supporting the weaker of the presidential candidates -- those more prone to failure. Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., has dropped out of the race. It will not be very long before Clark announces he is no longer a candidate. President Clinton pretends to help people like former Calif. Gov. Gray Davis, Graham, Clark and various others seeking political offices. They have or will shortly become history, but payback will require their undivided support for Hillary. It may very well be that Hillary Clinton will not be a candidate in the 2004 presidential race and opt to run in 2008. In the making of a president, five years is a short period.
It is puzzling that after leaving office, Bill Clinton occupies a six-story office complex in Harlem, identifies himself with blacks, but did not initially come out in support of Al Sharpton or Carol Moseley Braun. Perhaps he will yet put his arms around both and say, "the two of you were my first choices, but I owed some favors to Graham, Davis and the others, and I am sure you both understand. However, it's a better late than never, and oh, did I mention that Hillary sends her best to you both."
PATRICK STRANGE
Campbell