Many posters seem to believe that "it's tough, but it ain;t going to change"
Once upon a time no one would have believed that health care could be free for all at the point of delivery. Then we got the NHS...So being ill did not have to mean financial destitution.
Maybe something just as radical is called for here. Maybe not free care homes for all, but care homes that are subsidised by the tax payer and not for profit.
For what it's worth, my grandfather went into a home in France (he was French). it was run by his union , and as care homes go it was a good one. The fees were about a third of what they'd have been here.
Some good points, and interesting to hear about that care home in France. I had not heard of this idea although I know that for example ,rail travel in France is much cheaper than here as a result of more state subsidy. If
that can be made more affordable, so can, and
should, care!
I agree with you (and Avenger) that care homes should not be for profit, and you also make the point that that does not necessarily mean they should be entirely free, which I agree with too. I personally think it would be very reasonable to ask everyone (including those currently getting CHC) to pay for their food and a cost towards utilities etc, as they would have to anyway, if they were not ill. The money the NHS would save by not having to pay those 'living expenses' for people on CHC could better be used towards paying for more actual
care for more people.
As you say, the idea that health care could be free was once unthinkable until the creation of the NHS. Since then, however, we have taken a backward step as far as long-term care is concerned, as that has been allowed to become re-privatised over the last few decades with the current result. Given the growing demand, it is very unlikely to be completely free again, but compromise is possible if we are prepared to think outside the box to find fair alternatives.