Long-Term Care for the Elderly

I read with more than a little interest your editorial (Dec. 27), “Hope for Chronically Ill,” about the state of long-term care for the elderly.

While I wholeheartedly agree with everything you stated, your omission of reference to services that can, and should, be provided in the home was lamentable.

Given the option of spending your declining days in an institution, no matter how quality oriented it may be, or choosing to remain at home, there can be little doubt about which choice you would make. Who among us would not prefer to spend what time we had left amid our family and friends, surrounded by the possessions of a lifetime, in our own home?

All too often, long-term care and nursing homes become synonymous in our vocabulary. Nursing homes are an essential part of our health-care delivery system, but should be utilized appropriately--when it becomes no longer possible to remain at home.

What our system sadly lacks is the awareness that in terms of dollars expended and humanity shown, home-health care, for both the acutely and chronically ill, is by far the most effective and efficient service available.

Until we, as a nation, begin to recognize the wisdom of adequately funding home-health care, we shall continue warehousing those members of our society who would benefit the most from services rendered in their homes.

PEGGY KEIDEL

Covina

Keidel is president of the Coalition of Visiting Nurses Assns./Services of Southern California, Inc.