Bureaucratization of Death
According to textbook, the process of dying has become increasingly bureaucratized in that hospitals and long-term care facilities have made the handling of death a routine. In addition, the preparation of the deceased's body for burial has also been allotted to funeral directors rather than the family of the deceased.
After reading your textbook in preparation for this discussion, please address the following:
- Discuss how death has been bureaucratized and what that means in terms of the experience of dying for the elderly and their families.
- What are the sociological factors that have led to this bureaucratization of death?
- How has this bureaucratization impacted society?
Medicare
As textbook notes, the costs for health care have risen dramatically and are expected to continue to rise. While Medicare is a public insurance program that provides coverage to almost everyone who is 65 and older, it only covers a portion of health care expenses. In fact, the authors of your textbook note that "if current trends continue, by 2030 half of those aged 65 and older will spend more than 25% of their income on medical bills and insurance premiums" (Markson & Stein, 2012).
After reading your textbook and watching "Aging America and Healthcare Reform," please address each of the following:
- Compare and contrast the services provided to older individuals under Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.
- Compare and contrast the health care services provided under Medicare versus Medicaid. Be sure to address how each program is funded, what they cover, who qualifies for them, and what role each plays in paying for health care of the elderly population.
- Discuss the current funding for Medicare and why there is debate regarding the program.
- What changes (if any) do you think that there will be in the Medicare program over the next 20 years?
- Do you believe that the eligibility requirements should be changed in order to receive the health services provided by Medicare? Why or why not?