Cathryn, I agree that the U.S. spends a great deal of our health care dollars treating those with chronic illness and multiple co-morbidities. As a Long term care nurse I see that every day in the nursing home. In fact, I am seeing younger and younger people being admitted into once was a place for the elderly. They need to be admitted to a nursing home due to years and years of non-compliance with managing their diabetes, over indulging in alcohol or drugs and generally ignoring their health. Our young patients have had strokes, amputations and renal failure. So how can we expect them to all of a sudden begin to take their health seriously when they haven’t done so for years? This is a real issue in long term care.
