Universal Health Care

Universal and affordable health care is an issue of concern to all Americans.  We all need to have health care coverage that is affordable, effective and available to everyone. The battle is raging in the Congress & the Senate to figure out a way to overhaul our health care system that desperately needs to be fixed. President Obama has come out in support of over hauling our system. Yet he is running into stiff resistance from the private insurance and pharmaceutical industries that want to continue the current system that clearly doesn’t address our needs.  With people losing their jobs and health care coverage, the prolonged recession that prevents them from being rehired, and the aging population overall, we face serious difficulties as a nation. We need to have reform and we need to have it now.

In addition to health care reform, women, minorities and communities are united in our health concerns. Issues such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease are decimating our families and communities. Cancer, HIV/Aids, Alzheimer, are creating extreme challenges and difficulties for women. In most communities and families, women are the primary caretakers for their households. When disease and illness strikes, women take the brunt of the support and stress of juggling schedules, arranging for support and taking time from work to care for their families.

For example, one illness is creating major problems in our families and communities. It’s called obesity. As more reports confirm that there is an “Obesity Crisis” in our nation, we also find out that there are many disastrous health problems associated with obesity. Diseases including diabetes, cardio pulmonary problems, vision loss, kidney and liver loss in advanced diabetic situations are creating economic, emotional and social stress on our families. While there are many studies to determine the causes of this obesity crisis, we know that it is directly related to several key issues such as genetics, diet and lack of exercise.

We need to educate ourselves to determine how we can avoid diseases and illnesses that are oftentimes preventable. We need to understand in advance how to take care of ourselves and our loved ones. If we link diseases with discussions about food selection, exercise, and avoidance of behaviors that cause these diseases, we stand a better chance of changing our behaviors.

There are many health challenges that we all face as our generation of Baby Boomers now move into the later years of their lives. A new challenge has appeared. It’s called “The Sandwich Generation”. Women are now faced with the dual responsibilities of caring for their children and husbands and dealing with the increased illness and diseases of their aging parents. We are increasingly stressed out having to take our children to school, tend to their health issues and then also having to deal with the doctor’s appointments, medical treatments and ongoing care of our aging parents.

There’s a lot of attention paid to the lack of sufficient health care coverage for all families. However, there is a lack of attention paid to issues that don’t make the news headlines. Increasingly we are hearing about minorities and women who don’t take the time to have doctor appointments or physical examinations because they are fearful of finding out they have serious illnesses or diseases like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. Their fear of discovering life threatening diseases, the financial fear of costly medical coverage and bills, and the lack of access to adequate and preventive health programs encourages women to avoid seeking care and help for their own health issues.

Imagine the consequences to a family where the mother is taking care of the children and the elderly grandparents, being the “glue of the family” when she discovers she has serious or life threatening illnesses. What happens when the mother now needs critical care or passes away? What is the emotional, psychological and financial impact of that one event on her family and community?

This is why women and families must take notice now and do everything possible to educate themselves about the health issues that affect our families, our communities and ourselves. We intend to bring people, women and experts to share and provide us with advice on how to manage this system. Issues we need to be educated on and take action upon to bring about changes to improve our families’ health, lives and futures.

Women, minorities and communities are united in our concerns. Issues such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease are decimating our families and communities. Cancer, HIV/Aids, Alzheimer, are creating extreme challenges and difficulties for women. In most communities and families, women are the primary caretakers for their households. When disease and illness strikes, women take the brunt of the support and stress of juggling schedules, arranging for support and taking time from work to care for their families.
Let’s look at one issue that is creating major problems in our families and communities. It’s called obesity. As more reports confirm that there is an “Obesity Crisis” in our nation, we also find out that there are many disastrous health problems associated with obesity. Diseases including diabetes, cardio pulmonary problems, vision loss, kidney and liver loss in advanced diabetic situations are creating economic, emotional and social stress on our families. While there are many studies to determine the causes of this obesity crisis, we know that it is directly related to several key issues such as genetics, diet and lack of exercise.
We need to educate ourselves to determine how we can avoid diseases and illnesses that are oftentimes preventable. We need to understand in advance how to take care of ourselves and our loved ones. If we link diseases with discussions about food selection, exercise, and avoidance of behaviors that cause these diseases, we stand a better chance of changing our behaviors.
There are many health challenges that we all face as our generation of Baby Boomers now move into the later years of their lives. A new challenge has appeared. It’s called “The Sandwich Generation”. Women are now faced with the dual responsibilities of caring for their children and husbands and dealing with the increased illness and diseases of their aging parents. We are increasingly stressed out having to take our children to school, tend to their health issues and then also having to deal with the doctor’s appointments, medical treatments and ongoing care of our aging parents.
There’s a lot of attention paid to the lack of sufficient health care coverage for all families. However, there is a lack of attention paid to issues that don’t make the news headlines. Increasingly we are hearing about minorities and women who don’t take the time to have doctor appointments or physical examinations because they are fearful of finding out they have serious illnesses or diseases like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. Their fear of discovering life threatening diseases, the financial fear of costly medical coverage and bills, and the lack of access to adequate and preventive health programs encourages women to avoid seeking care and help for their own health issues.
Imagine the consequences to a family where the mother is taking care of the children and the elderly grandparents, being the “glue of the family” when she discovers she has serious or life threatening illnesses. What happens when the mother now needs critical care or passes away? What is the emotional, psychological and financial impact of that one event on her family and community?
This is why women and families must take notice now and do everything possible to educate themselves about the health issues that affect our families, our communities and ourselves. We intend to bring people, women and experts to share and provide us with advice on how to manage this system. Issues we need to be educated on and take action upon to bring about changes to improve our families’ health, lives and futures.
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