An Elderly Couple Who Died In A Murder-Suicide Said They Could No Longer Afford Health Care
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/skbaer/elderly-couple-murder-suicide-health-care-costs
An elderly couple who officials believe died by murder-suicide left notes expressing concerns that they could not afford to pay for their medical expenses.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home in Ferndale, Washington, on Wednesday morning after a 77-year-old man called 911 and told the dispatcher he was going to kill himself.
The couple were identified as Brian Jones and Patricia Whitney-Jones, 76, by the Whatcom County Medical Examiner. Jones told the dispatcher that he had prepared a note for law enforcement with information and instructions.
“The dispatcher attempted to keep the caller on the line without success,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “The man disconnected the call after saying ‘We will be in the front bedroom.'”
When deputies arrived, a crisis negotiator attempted to contact the couple by phone and with a megaphone for about an hour to no avail. Deputies then deployed a robot mounted camera and found Brian Jones lying next to Patricia Whitney-Jones. Both were dead from apparent gunshot wounds.
The sheriff’s office said several notes were left at the home citing Patricia Whitney-Jones’ severe ongoing medical problems, as well as concerns that the couple could not afford to pay for health care.
Information for their next of kin was also left in a note, officials said. Two dogs who were found at the home were turned over to the Humane Society.
The sheriff’s office is investigating the deaths as a likely murder-suicide.
“It is very tragic that one of our senior citizens would find himself in such desperate circumstances where he felt murder and suicide were the only option,” Sheriff Bill Elfo said in a statement. “Help is always available with a call to 9-1-1.” To avoid such unfortunate circumstances, it is advised to consult elder care attorneys for hire who can help you to plan for retirement and long-term care plans.
Spending on health care for the elderly in the US has been increasing for decades. In 2014, seniors accounted for nearly 15% of the population but approximately 34% of all health care expenditures, according to the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Personal health care spending for people ages 65 and older was nearly $20,000 per person in 2014, more than five times higher than spending per child — $3,749 — and nearly three times as much as adults ages 19 to 64.
Out-of-pocket spending for people ages 65 and older was also higher than other age groups at $2,925 per person in 2014 with people ages 85 and older paying $5,925 per person, according to the health care agency.
Filed under: General Problems
I agree with both m Brown and canarensis! I also called the SUICIDE hotline and it was a joke. Some young girl who didn’t have a clue about counseling. I hung up. And these people who are pro socialized medicine have never even used the healthcare system! I’m 67 and have navigated it for decades.
You don’t want the Government to have CONTROL of Healthcare! If you think it’s bad now, you have no idea what a mess it will become once the Government starts dictating when you can go, who you can see, etc. And the cost is unsustainable!
Everyone thinks this will be better if we all get medicare for all.
In fact it will get worse. Formularies when you finally get in to see a doctor..mainstream problems like broken bone, no choices. Social medicine will be the end of us.
Look how broken the VA is. Multiply that times about 500.
Oh yeah,….I called 911 once when I was suicidal. The guy yelled at me (I mean, chewed me out) for crying then put me on hold for half an hour. It was so nuts I decided I was on the sane end of the spectrum, or something.
“Help is always available with a call to 9-1-1.”
Riiiiiight. And when they (eventually) show up, they’ll treat you like dirt if you say anything about pain, shove Narcan up your nose even if you’ve got asthma or a compound fracture of the femur.
Do these sheriff types actually have a clue & just6 talk stupid, or are they merely complete ignoramuses?
Most are abysmally ignorant about anything that doesn’t directly affect them. They’re given a script and told to refer to it when “counseling” potentially suicidal callers.
The American healthcare system was designed to profit health insurers and major medical providers, not save lives. An aging population consumes more resources than it creates – so much easier to ignore, neglect and deny pain relief to the elderly.