g this morning my thoughts turned to an upcoming cruise I'm taking my folks on, and then I began to mentally compare nursing home sevices versus those on a cruise ship. The latest survey of nursing home costs puts it at $70,080 per year, or about $192 per day. Conversely, I can do a six-day cruise for $250-300, or $50 per day. For sake of argument let's say the cost of a cruise doubles over the next few years while nursing home care remains fiscally constant. Let's look at what I get for HALF the money...I can have TEN meals a day if I can only waddle to the restaurant or buffet, or I can have room service (breakfast in bed every day!).
I have workout rooms, steam rooms swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, washers and dryers, Vegas quality shows every night, a casino, plus much, much more...
I get free toothpaste, razors, soap, and shampoo...
My towels and sheets are changed daily and I don't even have to ask!
If there's a lightbulb out, or the TV goes on the fritz, want a different mattress, no problem- they fix it right away and apologize for the inconvenience.
I get to meet new people every 7 to 14 days.
I'm treated like a customer, not a patient. Staff scambles to help.
And best of all, I"d get to see South America, the Carribean, Austrailia, New Zealand, Europe, Tahiti, Mexico, or where-ever I might want to go!
I'm thinking there's not going to be a nursing home in my future. Look for an old guy hanging at the rail taking in the glorious sunsets. I can't think of a drawback to this plan - (if I fall and break a hip in a home I go on Medicare; if I fall and break a hip on a cruise ship I get upgraded to a suite- probably for life!). So I think I'll cruise 'til I die- then it's a burial at sea- No charge!
Food for thought!
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